The younger brother who chose to die alongside the infamous Maximilien Robespierre
In short: Augustin Robespierre was a revolutionary politician whose life mirrored his brother Maximilien's, yet he possessed a distinct, hedonistic charm. When the political tide turned against his brother during the French Revolution, Augustin famously demanded to share his fate, ultimately meeting the guillotine in a final act of loyalty.
Born in Arras in 1763, Augustin Robespierre followed a path carved by his older brother, Maximilien. After their father abandoned the family, Augustin was raised by grandparents and eventually secured his brother's former scholarship to study law. While their political ideologies remained aligned throughout the Revolution, Augustin was known for a lighter, more indulgent character, earning him the nickname Bonbon due to his love for gaming, fine food, and female companionship.
Augustin’s political career gained momentum when he was elected to the National Convention in 1792. He served as a representative on mission in southeastern France, where he encountered a young Napoleon Bonaparte. Recognizing Napoleon's potential, Augustin actively supported his career advancement. However, his personal life was often turbulent; he had a strained relationship with his sister Charlotte and faced controversy when his mistress, La Saudraye, took an assertive, unconventional role in political debates at a local society in Besançon.
The end came on 9 Thermidor, 1794. When the Convention voted to arrest Maximilien, Augustin stood up in the hall and declared his shared guilt and desire to share his brother's fate. After a failed insurrection at the Hôtel de Ville, Augustin attempted to escape by jumping from a ledge, suffering a pelvic fracture and head injuries in the process. He was captured, identified by the Revolutionary Tribunal, and executed on 10 Thermidor, dying as the third of twenty-two convicts sent to the scaffold that day.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Augustin Robespierre
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