 |
Jean-Lamber TalienMember of the Convention
Date of Birth: .
Country:  France |
Content:
- Jean-Lambert Tallien: A Revolutionary Figure and Thermidorian Leader
- Montanard and Revolutionary Terror
- Thermidorian Plot and End of the Terror
- Marriage and Political Decline
- Later Years and Poverty
Jean-Lambert Tallien: A Revolutionary Figure and Thermidorian Leader
Early Career and September MassacresBorn a printer's apprentice, Jean-Lambert Tallien's political journey began with his participation in the August 10 uprising. Elected secretary of the Paris Commune, he subsequently became a deputy in the National Convention. Tallien played an active role in the September Massacres of 1792, ordering the execution of prisoners held in Parisian prisons.
Montanard and Revolutionary Terror
Tallien aligned himself with the radical Montagnards and voted for the execution of Louis XVI. As a member of the Committee of Public Safety, he was sent to suppress the revolt in Bordeaux. During his mission, he gained notoriety for corruption, embezzlement, and scandalous affairs, notably with Thérèse Cabarrus, the former wife of the Marquis de Fontenay.
Thermidorian Plot and End of the Terror
Recalled to Paris due to allegations of abuses, Tallien partnered with Barras and Fouché to orchestrate the overthrow of Robespierre on 9 Thermidor. Following the fall of the Committee of Public Safety, Tallien emerged as a leader of the Thermidorians, ordering the arrest and execution of many Jacobins.
Marriage and Political Decline
After the release of Thérèse Cabarrus, Tallien married her. Their lavish salon, known as "Madame Cabarrus's," became infamous for its scandalous displays of wealth. Under the Directory, Tallien served in the Council of Five Hundred but lacked his former influence. He joined Napoleon Bonaparte's Egyptian expedition in 1798, returning to Paris in 1801.
Later Years and Poverty
Tallien welcomed the Bourbon Restoration in 1814 and the return of Napoleon during the Hundred Days. His request for a pension after the second Restoration in 1815 was denied, and he lived out his remaining years in poverty.
