Charles Jean Marie Barbaroux French politician Date of Birth: 06.03.1767 Country: France

1. Charles Barbaroux: A Leading Figure of the French Revolution
2. Paris and the National Convention
3. A Girondin in the Convention
4. Proscription and Flight
5. Capture and Execution

Charles Barbaroux: A Leading Figure of the French Revolution

Charles Barbaroux, a prominent figure in the French Revolution, was born in Marseille on March 6, 1767. As a lawyer in his hometown, he played a crucial role in fueling the revolutionary movement through his publication, "L'Observateur marseillais."

Paris and the National Convention

With the outbreak of the Revolution, Barbaroux became a Parisian agent for the people of Marseille. He fiercely opposed the royal court and aligned himself with the disgraced minister Roland. After the Storming of the Tuileries Palace in August 1792, where he commanded the Marseillais battalion, Barbaroux returned to his hometown as a celebrated figure.

A Girondin in the Convention

Elected to the National Convention, Barbaroux joined the Girondin faction. During the trial of King Louis XVI, he voted for the death penalty, although with an appeal to the people. However, his opposition to the radical Jacobins, led by Marat and Robespierre, ultimately sealed his fate.

Proscription and Flight

Accused as a royalist and an enemy of the republic, Barbaroux was proscribed on May 31, 1793. He fled to Caen, where he met with Charlotte Corday, the future assassin of Marat. Seeking refuge in the Gironde department, the fugitives faced increasing resistance from the Jacobins.

Capture and Execution

Eventually, Barbaroux was captured and taken to the revolutionary court in Bordeaux. Convicted of treason, he was guillotined on June 25, 1794, at the age of 27. His tragic end marked a turning point in the Revolution, as the moderate Girondins fell victim to the rise of radicalism and the Reign of Terror.