On October 16th 1793, a widow and mother-of-four died. Her hair allegedly turned white overnight from the stress of anticipating her execution. Two weeks prior she had lost her son and heir, Louis-Joseph, at age 7. She was on trial for treason and theft, alongside a false charge alleging sexual abuse against her youngest son Louis-Charles. She had only two days to prepare for the trial against the ruthless Antoine Quentin Fouquirer-Tinville, President of the Tribunal.
The Reign of Terror is a haunting and unforgettable chapter in the annals of the French Revolution; characterised by political radicalisation led by Maximillien Robespierre, it saw the relentless blade of the guillotine and the infamous executions of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI. This tumultuous period prompts compelling questions about how the revolution transformed into its most radical and violent phase: was the Terror an inevitable consequence of royal betrayal and the increasing power of the people, or was it caused by an unfortunate deviation resulting from unforeseen circumstances?
Joan of Arc was born in the midst of the Hundred Years’ War between England and France. Her ‘uniqueness’ came to surface in her teen years when she claimed she could hear the voices of saints. She claimed the voices told her to drive English forces out of France so that Charles VII – the then heir to the French throne – could be crowned King. Within said mission, Joan took a vow of chastity, and despite the pressures placed on her to marry, she stayed loyal to her vow.
The story of the Battle of Agincourt follows the age-old narrative of the beloved underdog rising against the odds. A legacy of victory and glory would become synonymous with Henry V after this epic episode in medieval history. An idyllic tale of knights, courage and king; it is recounted even in modern memory, but how honest is it?
Tristan was a socialist writer and activist in early nineteenth century France, and was one of the founders of modern feminism. She was also a keen travel writer. Evie Hull profiles her interesting life.
