Bignon Commission (French Revolution): Difference between revisions
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The '''Bignon Commission''' ({{lang-fr|commission Bignon}}; 1793–1794) was a [[First French Republic|French]] military tribunal that [[French Terror|terrorized]] [[Nantes]] during the [[French Revolution]]. The president of the tribunal was [[Antoine Gonchon]] but it came to be known after [[François Bignon]], captain of the 2nd battalion of Paris Volunteers, who directed most of its proceedings. |
The '''Bignon Commission''' ({{lang-fr|commission Bignon}}; 1793–1794) was a [[First French Republic|French]] military tribunal that [[French Terror|terrorized]] [[Nantes]] during the [[French Revolution]]. The president of the tribunal was [[Antoine Gonchon]] but it came to be known after [[François Bignon]], captain of the 2nd battalion of Paris Volunteers, who directed most of its proceedings. |
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During the [[Reign of Terror]], the radicals had little trust in their revolutionary committees who acted as a leadership group. With living conditions and hunger still an issue even after [[Louis XVI of France|King Louis XVI’]]<nowiki/>s death, the people were unsatisfied with the new leadership in the committees and |
During the [[Reign of Terror]], the radicals had little trust in their revolutionary committees who acted as a leadership group. With living conditions and hunger still an issue even after [[Louis XVI of France|King Louis XVI’]]<nowiki/>s death, the people were unsatisfied with the new leadership in the committees and oftentimes, they were fearful of the committees. As a result, counter-revolutionary groups formed. These counter-revolutionaries believed that they were following the true ideals of the revolution, while the committees saw them as a threat instead. While some counter-revolutionaries were trained, groups such as the [[Vendée]] mostly used [[guerrilla warfare]] as a tactic to fight. The [[Vendée]] were responsible for many revolts and as a result, they caused a big uproar.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=The Terror in the French Revolution|last=Gough|first=Hugh|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2010|isbn=978-0-230-20181-1|location=London|pages=41–42|quote=|via=}}</ref> Generals of the [[Vendée]] often clashed with the leaders of the Committee of Public Safety.<ref name=":0" /> The creation of military commissions such as the Bignon Commission were intended to stop counter-revolutionary groups from rallying support and inciting violence. By ending rebellious behavior, the goal was to ultimately unite the ideals of the [[French Revolution]] once again. |
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== The Vendée/ the Vendéans == |
== The Vendée/ the Vendéans == |
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The [[Reign of Terror]] caused great fear and distrust of the committees because of their power in the swift creation of military commissions to shut down counter-revolutionary groups. Many people felt that the military commissions were unjust and were too violent and the power that the committees had was too much.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Living the French Revolution: 1789-1799|last=McPhee|first=Peter|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2006|isbn=978-0-230-57475-5|location=New York|pages=163–164|quote=|via=}}</ref> The quick trials and the sudden mass executions contributed to the fear of the time period. |
The [[Reign of Terror]] caused great fear and distrust of the committees because of their power in the swift creation of military commissions to shut down counter-revolutionary groups. Many people felt that the military commissions were unjust and were too violent and the power that the committees had was too much.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Living the French Revolution: 1789-1799|last=McPhee|first=Peter|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2006|isbn=978-0-230-57475-5|location=New York|pages=163–164|quote=|via=}}</ref> The quick trials and the sudden mass executions contributed to the fear of the time period. |
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Once counter-revolutionaries such as the [[Vendée|Vendéans]] were captured, they were given a swift trial and the majority were executed. Most people were executed by [[shooting range]]s, including girls as young at 17. By 1794, about eighty people were killed per day. Many people were also [[Drowning|drowned]] during the so |
Once counter-revolutionaries such as the [[Vendée|Vendéans]] were captured, they were given a swift trial and the majority were executed. Most people were executed by [[shooting range]]s, including girls as young at 17. By 1794, about eighty people were killed per day. Many people were also [[Drowning|drowned]] during the so-called [[drownings at Nantes]]. People were tied together, herded on boats, and then drowned in packs. No records were kept of this event.<ref name=":0" /> Alongside the commissions, the local militia supported the initiative. For example, the Marat Company was able to execute large groups of people with [[Jean-Baptiste Carrier]]’s support, who was in favor of quick execution in order to free more prison space for radicals and anyone else against the ideals of the French Revolution.<ref name=":0" /> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 00:46, 23 March 2018
The Bignon Commission (Template:Lang-fr; 1793–1794) was a French military tribunal that terrorized Nantes during the French Revolution. The president of the tribunal was Antoine Gonchon but it came to be known after François Bignon, captain of the 2nd battalion of Paris Volunteers, who directed most of its proceedings.
During the Reign of Terror, the radicals had little trust in their revolutionary committees who acted as a leadership group. With living conditions and hunger still an issue even after King Louis XVI’s death, the people were unsatisfied with the new leadership in the committees and oftentimes, they were fearful of the committees. As a result, counter-revolutionary groups formed. These counter-revolutionaries believed that they were following the true ideals of the revolution, while the committees saw them as a threat instead. While some counter-revolutionaries were trained, groups such as the Vendée mostly used guerrilla warfare as a tactic to fight. The Vendée were responsible for many revolts and as a result, they caused a big uproar.[1] Generals of the Vendée often clashed with the leaders of the Committee of Public Safety.[1] The creation of military commissions such as the Bignon Commission were intended to stop counter-revolutionary groups from rallying support and inciting violence. By ending rebellious behavior, the goal was to ultimately unite the ideals of the French Revolution once again.
The Vendée/ the Vendéans
The Vendée were a counter-revolutionary group who were seen as a threat to the French Revolution. Any group that appeared to not believe in the true ideals of the revolution were considered counter-revolutionary, and during the Reign of Terror, many were quickly tried and often sentenced to death. In this way, the Committee of Public Safety only acted against them because they were seen as a big enough threat to the revolution. As a result, military commissions were created, such as the Bignon Commission to stop groups like the Vendée.[2]
The Committee of Public Safety felt that their rebellious nature had to be suppressed before it spread to the general public. The Vendée was a violent group, as they revolted in massacres and attacks against the Republic.[3] The Vendée were a group of pious individuals who typically practiced guerilla warfare in their attacks. They were against the Republic and the committees.[3] They generally did not keep prisoners of war, nor did they want to kill them. They would often set their prisoners free even if it was the republican enemy. In fact, Charles-Melchior de Bonchamps ordered that 5,000 republican prisoners of war be set free.[3]
The Creation of Military Commissions
Military commissions were created October 9, 1792.[4] There were five judges which consisted of everyday people or soldiers. People who were tried were sentenced to death. These military commissions were initially created to put emigres on trial, but by March 19, 1793 the law changed.[4] Rebels who had weapons or other political counter-revolutionaries were put on trial under the military commissions which is similar to a criminal court today.[4] However, since the people who were tried were considered to be political radicals and a threat to the French Revolution, they were tried quickly and few were actually put in prison; the majority of the people tried were killed.
The Bignon Commission was one military commission created among 60 others that was intended to catch the rebels who were accused of counter-revolutionary behavior and later who had fled out of fear during the Reign of Terror. They were intended to be tried quickly and then sentenced to death. There were 8,000 people executed, and it was based on judicial law.[5] The accused were not allowed to have a lawyer.[1] The military officials and citizens were able to act as judges and the court decisions had to be made immediately. Others such as the Brutus and Frey Commissions, and the Parien and Felix Commissions, executed many people, but the Lenoir and Bignon Commissions were responsible for the most deaths, counting at 4,000 in Nantes.[1]
By April 1794, the Revolutionary Tribunal of Paris was in charge of handling counter-revolutionary cases by law.[6] Any local commission or tribunal that was once able to trial emigres, rebels, or clergy were no longer granted that power unless the Committee of Public Safety gave them the right to do so. This decision helped to put an end to the Reign of Terror in suppression of tribunals and military commissions such as the Bignon Commission.[6] In the last months of the Reign of Terror, the remaining executions occurred in places such as Bordeaux, Nîmes and Arras.[6]
Executions
The Reign of Terror caused great fear and distrust of the committees because of their power in the swift creation of military commissions to shut down counter-revolutionary groups. Many people felt that the military commissions were unjust and were too violent and the power that the committees had was too much.[8] The quick trials and the sudden mass executions contributed to the fear of the time period.
Once counter-revolutionaries such as the Vendéans were captured, they were given a swift trial and the majority were executed. Most people were executed by shooting ranges, including girls as young at 17. By 1794, about eighty people were killed per day. Many people were also drowned during the so-called drownings at Nantes. People were tied together, herded on boats, and then drowned in packs. No records were kept of this event.[1] Alongside the commissions, the local militia supported the initiative. For example, the Marat Company was able to execute large groups of people with Jean-Baptiste Carrier’s support, who was in favor of quick execution in order to free more prison space for radicals and anyone else against the ideals of the French Revolution.[1]
See also
- Bignon Commission (1693–1718), a separate commission which began work on the Descriptions of the Arts and Trades of France
References
- ^ a b c d e f Gough, Hugh (2010). The Terror in the French Revolution. London: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 41–42. ISBN 978-0-230-20181-1.
- ^ Lenotre, G. (1912). Tragic Episodes of the French Revolution in Brittany with Unpublished Documents. London: Ballantyne, Hanson & Co. p. 28.
- ^ a b c Andress, David (2005). The Terror: The Merciless War for Freedom in Revolutionary France. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. pp. 244–246. ISBN 978-0-374-27341-5.
- ^ a b c Jones, Collin (2013). The Longman Companion to the French Revolution. New York: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-582-49417-6.
- ^ Brown, Howard G. (2006). Ending the French Revolution: Violence, Justice, and Repression from the Terror to Napoleon. University of Virginia Press. p. 393. ISBN 978-0-8139-2729-9 – via footnote.
- ^ a b c "© The Incidence of the Terror during the French Revolution". www.tees.ac.uk. Retrieved 2016-12-11.
- ^ Gough, Hugh (2010). The Terror in the French Revolution. London: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 41, 42. ISBN 978-0-230-20181-1.
- ^ McPhee, Peter (2006). Living the French Revolution: 1789-1799. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 163–164. ISBN 978-0-230-57475-5.