 honorÃ© gabriel riqueti, comte de mirabeau (9 march 17492 april 1791) was a leader of the early stages of the french revolution. a noble, before 1789 he was involved in numerous scandals that left his reputation in ruins. however during the early years (1789â91) of the french revolution he rose to the top and became the voice of the people. a successful orator, he was the leader of the moderate position, favoring a constitutional monarchy built on the model of great britain. when he died (of natural causes) he was a great national hero, even though support for his moderate position was slipping away. the later discovery that starting in 1790 he was in the pay of the king and the austrian enemies of france caused his disgrace. historians are deeply split on whether he was a great leader who almost saved the nation from the terror, or a venal demagogue lacking political or moral values, or a traitor in the pay of the enemy.epstein (1970) pp 576-77 ==family history== the family of riqueti with distant origins in italy, became wealthy through merchant trading in marseilles. in 1570, jean riqueti bought the chÃ¢teau and seigniory of mirabeau, which had belonged to the great provenÃ§al family of barras. in 1685, honorÃ© riqueti obtained the title marquis de mirabeau. his son, jean antoine, grandfather of honorÃ© gabriel riqueti, served with distinction through all the later campaigns of the reign of louis xiv. at the battle of cassano (1705), he suffered a neck wound so severe he thereafter had to wear a silver stock. because he tended to be blunt and tactless, he never rose above the rank of colonel. on retiring from the service, he married franÃ§oise de castellane with whom he had three sons: victor (marquis de mirabeau), jean antoine (bailli de mirabeau) and louis alexandre (comte de mirabeau). honorÃ© gabriel riqueti, comte de mirabeau was the son of victor. ==early life== honorÃ© mirabeau was born at le bignon, near nemours, the eldest surviving son of the economist [[victor de riqueti, marq
1749_births 1791_deaths 18th-century_French_writers Burials_at_the_PanthA(c)on,_Paris Marquesses_of_Mirabeau People_from_Loiret People_imprisoned_by_lettre_de_cachet People_of_the_French_Revolution