Terror, Reign of

Terror, Reign of

▪ French history
also called  The Terror,  French  La Terreur 

      the period of the French Revolution from Sept. 5, 1793, to July 27, 1794 (9 Thermidor, year II). Caught up in civil and foreign war, the Revolutionary government decided to make “Terror” the order of the day (September 5 decree) and to take harsh measures against those suspected of being enemies of the Revolution (nobles, priests, hoarders). In Paris a wave of executions followed. In the provinces, representatives on mission and surveillance committees instituted local terrors. The Terror had an economic side embodied in the Maximum, a price-control measure demanded by the lower classes of Paris, and a religious side that was embodied in the program of dechristianization pursued by the followers of Jacques Hébert (Hébert, Jacques-René).

 During the Terror, the Committee of Public Safety (Public Safety, Committee of) (of which Robespierre (Robespierre, Maximilien de) was the most prominent member) exercised virtual dictatorial control over French government. In the spring of 1794, it eliminated its enemies to the left (the Hébertists) and to the right (the Indulgents, or followers of Georges Danton (Danton, Georges)). Still uncertain of its position, the committee obtained the Law of 22 Prairial, year II (June 10, 1794), which suspended a suspect's right to public trial and to legal assistance and left the jury only a choice between acquittal and death. The “Great Terror” that followed, in which about 1,400 persons were executed, contributed to the fall of Robespierre on July 27 (9 Thermidor).

      During the Reign of Terror, at least 300,000 suspects were arrested; 17,000 were officially executed, and many died in prison or without trial.

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  • Reign of Terror — This article is about the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution. For other uses, see Reign of Terror (disambiguation). The Reign of Terror (5 September 1793, to 28 July 1794) (the latter is date 10 Thermidor, year II of the French… …   Wikipedia

  • Reign of Terror — noun the historic period (1793 94) during the French Revolution when thousands were executed the Reign of the Bourbons ended and the Reign of Terror began • Instance Hypernyms: ↑historic period, ↑age * * * noun, pl reigns of terror [count] : a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • reign of terror — noun any period of brutal suppression thought to resemble the Reign of Terror in France • Topics: ↑terrorism, ↑act of terrorism, ↑terrorist act • Hypernyms: ↑reign * * * noun, pl reigns of terror [count] : a period during which a person or group… …   Useful english dictionary

  • terror — ter|ror [ˈterə US ər] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(fear)¦ 2¦(frightening situation)¦ 3¦(violent action)¦ 4¦(person)¦ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: terreur, from Latin terror, from terrere; TERRIBLE] 1.) ¦(FEAR)¦[U] a feeling of ex …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • terror — noun 1 FEAR (U) a feeling of extreme fear: Paul screamed, the terror bursting out of him. | in terror (=very frightened): The people fled in terror. | live in terror of (=be very frightened of someone or something): After being bullied, Steven… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • Reign of Terror (disambiguation) — Reign of Terror is the name given to a historical period during the early part of the French Revolution.It may also refer to: * The Reign of Terror (Doctor Who), a Doctor Who serial * Reign of Terror (Demo), by the American band Death * Reign of… …   Wikipedia

  • Terror — is a state of fear, an overwhelming sense of imminent danger. *Horror and terrorTerror may also refer to:;In popular culture * The Terror (1963 film), a 1963 horror film directed by Roger Corman * The Terror (novel), a 2007 novel by Dan Simmons… …   Wikipedia

  • Reign of Terror — Terror Ter ror, n. [L. terror, akin to terrere to frighten, for tersere; akin to Gr. ? to flee away, dread, Skr. tras to tremble, to be afraid, Russ. triasti to shake: cf. F. terreur. Cf. {Deter}.] 1. Extreme fear; fear that agitates body and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Terror — Ter ror, n. [L. terror, akin to terrere to frighten, for tersere; akin to Gr. ? to flee away, dread, Skr. tras to tremble, to be afraid, Russ. triasti to shake: cf. F. terreur. Cf. {Deter}.] 1. Extreme fear; fear that agitates body and mind;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • terror — late 14c., great fear, from O.Fr. terreur (14c.), from L. terrorem (nom. terror) great fear, dread, from terrere fill with fear, frighten, from PIE root *tre shake (see TERRIBLE (Cf. terrible)). Meaning quality of causing dread is attested from… …   Etymology dictionary

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