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François Hanriot

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François Hanriot was a prominent leader during the French Revolution.

François Hanriot
François Hanriot

He served as a street orator and a commander of the National Guard. He was a key figure for the sans-culottes, who were the common people of the poorer Parisian districts. Hanriot's actions helped shift political power in France through several major uprisings. His life moved from being an unemployed worker to a general commanding 130,000 men.

Hanriot was born in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris. His parents were gardeners for a former Treasurer of France. His early career was difficult and marked by many different jobs. He worked as a secretary and a tax clerk for the Paris octroi. However, he lost these positions due to various issues. In 1789, he was dismissed after being involved in a protest against the firing of Jacques Necker. He was even imprisoned in Bicêtre for a time. Later, he held various roles such as a shopkeeper, a liquor-seller, and a peddler.

By January 1792, Hanriot became a well-known orator for the sans-culottes. He was known for his anti-aristocratic views and his attacks on Lafayette. On September 2, 1792, he was appointed captain of the National Guard battalion for his section.

La chute des Girondins
La chute des Girondins

He gained a loyal following by showing a very bold and aggressive attitude toward the aristocracy. This popularity allowed him to rise through the ranks of the revolutionary military forces.

In the spring of 1793, political tension in Paris reached a breaking point. The radical Montagnards and the Commune were hostile toward the ruling Girondist faction. On May 30, 1793, the Commune appointed Hanriot as the provisional Commandant-General of the Parisian National Guard. He was ordered to march his troops to the Palais National. He even ordered a cannon to fire on the Pont-Neuf to signal an alarm. This was a direct challenge to the authority of the Convention.

Between May 31 and June 2, 1793, Hanriot organized a massive insurrection.

The elimination of Girondins
The elimination of Girondins

On June 2, a large force of armed citizens surrounded the Convention. Some sources estimate the crowd was 80,000 people, while others say 30,000. Hanriot used 63 pieces of artillery to surround the building. His troops used pikes and bayonets to pressure the deputies. This pressure forced the Convention to arrest 22 Girondist deputies. Some leaders, like Marat, called Hanriot the "Savior of the Fatherland."

Following this success, Hanriot's influence grew significantly. On September 19, 1792, he was appointed General commanding the Parisian National Guard. At this time, the guard numbered 130,000 men. He lived in an apartment in the Hôtel de Ville. He was a supporter of the radical Hébertists but remained loyal to Maximilien Robespierre. He even took steps to maintain order, such as detaining bakers who did not follow distribution rules for bread.

The political landscape changed again during the Thermidorean Reaction in July 1794. A group of Convention members organized a coup to overthrow Robespierre and his allies. On July 27, 1794, Hanriot attempted to help release Robespierre after his arrest. His attempt failed, and he was arrested.

La nuit du 9 au 10 thermidor an II
La nuit du 9 au 10 thermidor an II

Under the rules of the law of 22 Prairial, he was executed the next day. He died alongside Robespierre, Saint-Just, and Couthon, marking a major turning point in the Revolution.

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File:François Hanriot.jpeg
François Hanriot.jpeg
File:La chute des Girondins.jpg
La chute des Girondins.jpg
File:The elimination of Girondins.jpg
The elimination of Girondins.jpg
File:La nuit du 9 au 10 thermidor an II.jpg
La nuit du 9 au 10 thermidor an II.jpg
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