page_title: French Directory
section_title: Ending the rule of Robespierre
hierarchical_section_title: French Directory / Prehistory and genesis / Ending the rule of Robespierre
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Die Hinrichtung Robespierres und seiner Anhänger am 28. Juli 1794 English: The execution of Robespierre and his supporters on 28 July 1794. Note: the beheaded man (6) is not Robespierre, but Couthon: Maximilien Robespierre (10) is shown sitting on the cart, dressed in brown, wearing a hat, and holding a handkerchief to his mouth. His younger brother Augustin (8) is being led up the steps to the scaffold. Français&#160;: Exécution de Robespierre et de ses complices conspirateurs contre la liberté et l'égalité&#160;: vive la Convention nationale qui par son énergie et surveillance a délivré la République de ses tyrans (estampe anonyme, 1794). Cidevant garde Meubles Entrée du ci-devant Jardin des Thuileries a la place de la Révolution Le faubourg St. Germain Sanson l’exécuteur de Paris Le traitre Lebas qui s'est brullé la Cervelle Le traitre Couthon déjà exécuté La tête du dit scélérat Le traitre Robespierre le jeune Hanriot ex commandant de la Garde Nationale parisienne Le tyran Robespierre l'ainé Dumas ex-président du Tribunal Révolutionnaire Le scelerat Saint-Just Lescot Fleuriot ex Maire de Paris Les 14 autres complices assis sur 2 charrettes
context_page_description: The Directory was the governing five-member committee in the French First Republic from 2 November 1795 until 9 November 1799, when it was overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte in the Coup of 18 Brumaire and replaced by the Consulate. It gave its name to the final four years of the French Revolution. Mainstream historiography also uses the term in reference to the period from the dissolution of the National Convention on 26 October 1795 to Napoleon's coup d’état.
  The Directory was continually at war with foreign coalitions, including Britain, Austria, Prussia, the Kingdom of Naples, Russia and the Ottoman Empire. It annexed Belgium and the left bank of the Rhine, while Bonaparte conquered a large part of Italy. The Directory established 196 short-lived sister republics in Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands. The conquered cities and states were required to send France huge amounts of money, as well as art treasures, which were used to fill the new Louvre museum in Paris. An army led by Bonaparte tried to conquer Egypt and marched as far as Saint-Jean-d'Acre in Syria.
context_section_description: On 27 July 1794, members of the French Convention, the revolutionary parliament of France, rose up against its leader Maximilien Robespierre, who was in the midst of executing thousands of suspected enemies of the Revolution. Robespierre and his leading followers were declared outside the law, and on 28 July were arrested and guillotined the same day. The Revolutionary Tribunal, which had sent thousands to the guillotine, ceased meeting and its head, Fouquier-Tinville, was arrested and imprisoned, and after trial was himself sentenced to death. More than five hundred suspected counter-revolutionaries awaiting trial and execution were immediately released.
caption: The execution of Maximilien Robespierre and his chief followers on 28 July 1794 ended the Reign of Terror and opened the way to the Directory
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