Long ago, a man named Maillard lived in France. 
Long ago, a man named Maillard lived in France. 
Stanislas-Marie Maillard was a man in the French Revolution. 
In 1790, he became a captain of the national guard. He signed a paper to help start a Republic. In 1792, he had a hard job. He was asked to stop massacres of prisoners. Some people say he helped the massacres happen instead. Because of this, some called him a chief of murderers. He also served as a judge at the Abbaye prison. He once let a man go free. Legend says the man's daughter saved him by drinking blood.
Maillard was a large man with dark hair. He wore a grey coat with big pockets. He was held in jail twice during a time called the Terror. He died from a sickness called tuberculosis.
Stanislas-Marie Maillard was a key figure in the French Revolution. 
Maillard took part in many famous moments. On 14 July 1789, he helped attack the Bastille fortress. He was the very first revolutionary to enter the building. Later, on 5 October 1789, he joined the market women. These women marched to Versailles to ask for bread. They also wanted justice against the royal bodyguards. Maillard acted as a spokesperson for these women. He told a big meeting that they wanted food and punishment for the guards.
As the years went by, Maillard held more power. In 1790, he became a captain of the national guard. On 17 July 1791, he signed a famous petition. This paper called for the creation of a Republic. In September 1792, the Commune of Paris gave him a hard job. They asked him to stop the massacres of prisoners. However, many people believe he actually helped these massacres happen. Some even called him the "Chief of the Murderers" because of this.
Maillard also worked as a judge at the Abbaye prison. He led a special court at this location. During his time there, he let a man named Charles François de Virot de Sombreuil go free. A famous legend tells of the man's daughter, Marie-Maurille. People say she saved her father by drinking a glass of blood. This story made her a legend in history. Maillard was described as a large man with dark, messy hair. He often wore a grey coat with very large pockets.
Life was not easy for Maillard at the end. He was held in jail twice during a period called the Terror. This happened because of his ties to the Hébertists. Eventually, he died on 11 April 1794. He died from a sickness called tuberculosis. He lived through a time of great change and many difficult choices. His story is part of the long history of France. It shows how much one person can be involved in big events.
Stanislas-Marie Maillard was a central figure during the French Revolution. He held many different titles and roles throughout this era. He served as a captain for the Bastille Volunteers. This group was part of the national guard. Maillard was also a member of the Hébertistes. This was a specific political group during the revolution. His life provides a window into the many shifts in French society. 
Maillard first gained fame during the attack on the Bastille. This was a famous fortress in Paris. On 14 July 1789, he participated in the assault. He was the very first revolutionary to enter the fortress. Following this event, he took the title "Captain of the Volunteers of the Bastille." He remained active in most major revolutionary events that followed. His actions helped shape the early days of the movement.
In October 1789, Maillard played a role in the "October Days." On 5 October 1789, he joined a march to Versailles. This march was led by market women known as the poissardes. These women marched to demand bread and justice. They were angry at royal bodyguards for disrespecting the revolution. Rumors said the guards trampled the national cockade at a banquet. Maillard acted as a spokesperson for the women's grievances. He told the Constituent Assembly that they wanted food and punishment for the guards.
As the revolution continued, Maillard moved into higher leadership positions. In 1790, he was named a captain of the national guard. On 17 July 1791, he signed the petition of the Champs-de-Mars. This document was important because it called for a Republic. A Republic is a system where people hold power. Maillard's signature showed his commitment to this new form of government. He was deeply involved in the political debates of the time.
In September 1792, Maillard was given a very difficult task. The Commune of Paris asked him to stop massacres of prisoners. However, his role in these events is highly controversial. Some historians believe he actually helped the massacres happen. His presence may have given the violence an air of legality. Because of this, he earned harsh nicknames. Some called him the "grand judge of the Abbaye." Others called him the "Chief of the Murderers."
Maillard also served as a judge at the Prison de l'Abbaye. He led an improvised tribunal, which is a temporary court. During this time, he released a man named Charles François de Virot de Sombreuil. This event is tied to a famous legend. The man's daughter, Marie-Maurille, is said to have saved him. Legend says she was forced to drink a glass of blood to spare her father. Eyewitness Jules Claretie described Maillard during this period. He said Maillard was a large man with dark, matted hair. He wore a grey habit with large pockets.

The end of Maillard's life was marked by hardship. He was detained twice during a period known as the Terror. This happened because of his connections to the Hébertistes. He did not die in a position of power. Instead, he died in misery on 11 April 1794. He died from tuberculosis, a serious lung disease. His life reflects the intense and often violent nature of the French Revolution. He was a man who lived through the most extreme changes in his country.
🖼️ Images & Media (1)
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🔬 Go deeper
More advanced topics to explore
🪜 Step back
Simpler topics to build understanding
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.