Who Were The Victims Of France's Reign Of Terror In 1793?

The Committee of Public Safety, Robespierre's brutal rule and pure vengeance characterized France in 1793, after the destruction of the Old Regime. A number of government institutions were set up to eliminate those who were seen to oppose France's new regime, including the Revolutionary Tribunal of Paris.

The Revolutionary Tribunal functioned both as a traditional court of law, but in late 1793 it also began implementing summary executions of alleged traitors. France's former Queen, Marie Antoinette was perhaps the most famous victim of the Tribunal. She was sentenced to death by the guillotine.

More than 2639 people of all social classes were executed in Paris within a period of only 15 months.  The majority of the victims were actually peasants and workers, while a much smaller proportion--approximately 15-20%--were either nobles or members of the clergy, the two groups that were seen as most hostile to the regime.

It is believed that in total, some 20,000 citizens may have fallen victim to Robespierre's Reign of Terror.