Louis Antoine de Saint-Just

Louis Antoine de Saint-Just played a significant role during the French Revolution as both a political leader and an ardent supporter of radical revolutionary principles. Born on 25 August 1767, Saint-Just became a prominent figure within the revolutionary government, particularly during the Reign of Terror (1793-1794). His early involvement in the political arena gained momentum with his election to the National Convention in 1792, where he quickly aligned himself with the Jacobins.

Saint-Just was an advocate of the radical measures that characterized the Jacobin approach to revolutionary governance. His loyalty to Maximilien Robespierre (a leading member of the Jacobin faction) fortified his influence within the Committee of Public Safety—the executive body that essentially ruled France during the latter part of the Revolution. Saint-Just’s intellectual prowess and oratory skills earned him the title "The Angel of Death" as he often articulated the necessity of harsh measures to protect the Revolution.

Among the policies Saint-Just championed was the implementation of the Reign of Terror, which called for the temporary suspension of civil rights and extensive use of the guillotine to counteract counter-revolutionary activities. He authored controversial pieces, including a report to the National Convention on 10 October 1793, which laid out the justifications for revolutionary terror as a means to maintain public virtue and eliminate threats to the Republic.

In his relentless commitment to the revolutionary cause, Saint-Just played a pivotal role in the downfall of several perceived enemies of the state, including prominent figures like Georges Danton (a fellow revolutionary who fell out of favor with the Jacobins). Saint-Just's views were uncompromising, often aligning with the doctrine that any relaxation in revolutionary rigor would invite catastrophe.

The downfall of Saint-Just was closely tied to the fall of Robespierre. On 27 July 1794 (known as 9 Thermidor Year II in the revolutionary calendar), both men were arrested during the Thermidorian Reaction—a backlash against the extreme measures of the Reign of Terror. Saint-Just, along with Robespierre and their associates, was executed by guillotine the following day, 28 July 1794. This marked the end of his radical influence and the conclusion of one of the most severe phases in the French Revolution.

• Louis Antoine de Saint-Just was only 26 years old when he became one of the leading figures of the French Revolution; his youthful zeal and radical ideas earned him the nickname 'the Angel of Death.'
• Saint-Just was not only a politician but also a fervent supporter of a sort of 'revolutionary asceticism,' advocating for personal sacrifice for the collective good of the Republic.
• Despite his young age and modest beginnings, he was a key architect behind the establishment of the Reign of Terror, which implemented extreme measures against 'counter-revolutionaries' and perceived enemies of the state.
• He was deeply influenced by Rousseau's philosophy, which emphasized the importance of the 'general will' and social equality; this ideology shaped his political actions and speeches during the Revolution.
• Most notably, Saint-Just delivered one of the final speeches in favor of executing Robespierre (his former ally) on 10 Thermidor Year II (28 July 1794), showcasing the volatile nature of revolutionary politics.
• Saint-Just had an unusual taste for the dramatic, famously stating that 'he who is not ready to die for liberty merits nothing' during one of his passionate speeches on virtue and sacrifice.