Georges Jacques Danton first gained prominence in revolutionary circles when he became the president of the Cordeliers Club, one of the first groups to incite radical action of disposing the monarchy, King Louis XVI (1754-1793) A month after the Flight Varennes, the Champ de Mars Massacre occurred Danton and he fled to London fearing counter-revolutionary …show more content…
This proposal culminated into the bloodiest period in the history of the French Revolution, known as the Reign of Terror, were those with suspected of counter-revolutionary activities or sympathies were executed often without a proper hearing and trial. Danton warned the counter revolutionaries during his time in the Committee, “... so that every day one aristocrat, one criminal will pay with his head for his crimes” and “...know that the swords of the law is hanging above the heads of all its enemies,” This period was marked by an over excessive amount of deaths were almost every day tens maybe even hundreds were guillotined losing the ideals which brought about the French republic, freedom and liberty. Danton’s suggestion resulted in the deaths of over 40,000 and many of which could have been innocent. Despite Danton’s later conjecture to the Reign of terror, it was still too late as the damage was already …show more content…
A month after the event of the Flight to Varennes, when Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette attempted to flee from France but failed, a petition was issued for the abdication of King Louis XVI but wasn’t signed by Danton. This is particularly strange for one of the major figures of the French revolution to not sign a petition that was firmly rooted as one of his goals. Danton would flee to London, England for several months, fearing counter-revolutionary uprising. This is in contrast to the later years of Danton’s life. Despite of the over looming prospect of death under Maximilien Robespierre’s rule of the Committee (Robespierre was adamant to get rid of Danton), he stayed in France rather than flee to London again) to oppose the extreme revolutionary terror. Georges Danton was originally a strong advocate of for revolutionary terror believing it to be essential to cementing the Committee of Public Safety’s power but later on his stance moderated. The change in stance meant Danton succumbed to his own creation, the Reign of Terror and was guillotined on the 5th of April 1794. This meant he was literally a villain to both sides. The changing of his stance was unusual and the motivation unknown. Danton was also marked with inconsistent behaviour throughout his career. Danton was a man who took up opposite sides with unknown motivations and was