The French Revolution, renowned for its transformative revolutionary politics and societal impact, initiated substantial changes in the pursuit of liberty and equality. While the revolution is often celebrated for its achievements, like the abolition of the absolute monarchy and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in 1789, the same efforts did not extend to women’s rights.
Marie Antoinette: Death, Cake, and Scandal, by Mae Caitlin Murphy
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.
Was the Reign of Terror inevitable? The Interplay of Circumstance and Ideology in the French Revolution, by Sasha Braham
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?