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Summary The September Massacres
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Notes on the September Massacres of the French Revolution
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The September massacresEvents:
25th August: news reached Paris that Longwy in Lorraine had fallen to the enemy on the 23 rd
1st September: news that Verdun (last fortress blocking way to capital) was under siege;
suggested that Brunswick would reach Paris in 2 weeks
At same time royalist rising in the Vendée (province of France) in which 200 were killed in a
conflict between Vendéeans + patriots
Danton stepped forward to reduce the panic:
- 30th August= he authorized house-searches for weapons hidden by the ‘ill-disposed’;
over the next 2 days all houses were searched and 3000 taken to prison
- 2nd September= launched a levée (call-up), enforcing conscription on pain on death
The proximity of the enemy armies, rumours of aristocratic plots + fear of traitors in Paris
(esp. in gaols) who might massacre the patriots’ families while the men went to war- created
an explosive atmosphere
Sounding of the tocsin (warning bell) unleashed 5 days of killing when 1000-1500 prisoners
in the Parisian gaols massacred in an orgy of blood-letting
- Commune responded to Danton’s speech by ordering tolling of the tocsin from every
Parisian bell tower in order to assemble 60,000 men on Champ de Mars
2nd September: first attacks led by fédérés on refractory priests being taken to/ held in prison
Over few days spread to include political prisoners + ordinary criminals (inc. women +
children in a reform-prison), monks, nuns + priests
These attacks (largely carried out by sans-culottes) appeared to be mostly spontaneous
although encouraged by members of the Commune + National Guard as well as views of
individuals such as Marat
Assembly did nothing to stop them
Outcome:
Massacres confirmed the fears of moderates that the sans-culottes were militant savages;
violence + uncivilized behaviour of the urban mobs led to them being called the buveurs de
sang (drinkers of blood- not just metaphorical + some swallowed gunpowder)
Fears abroad of the dangers of popular revolution were confirmed
Girondins blamed the Jacobins for inciting this violent behaviour; increased the split
Power of the Assembly + ‘authorities’ shown to be weak
Popularity of the radical leaders Danton (allowed attacks to escalate despite being Minister
of Justice) + Robespierre increased
Was war the main cause of the events? If not then who / what was?
Yes; was a build-up of lots of fears and concerns which were onset/confirmed by war
Lack of a strong government- if scs had felt that gov was in control and handling situation
well perhaps wouldn’t have taken these actions
Rise of sans culottes, mobs and fédérés- out of control
Could the LA have stopped them? If it could, why didn’t it?
No- theyre weak + divided, don’t all agree; sans culottes are dangerous and don’t show
respect for king/authority- fear
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