François Buzot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
François Buzot
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| Born |
François Buzot
1 March 1760 |
| Died | 24 June 1794 (aged 34) |
| Known for | French politician and leader of the French Revolution |
François Nicolas Léonard Buzot (born March 1, 1760 – died June 24, 1794) was an important French politician. He was a leader during the French Revolution, a time of big changes in France.
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About François Buzot
His Early Life and Career
François Buzot was born in Évreux, France. He studied Law and became a lawyer in his hometown. When the French Revolution began in 1789, he was chosen to represent the Third Estate in the Estates-General. This was a big meeting of different groups in France.
Buzot quickly became known for his strong and new ideas. He believed the government should take over the land and wealth of the Roman Catholic Church. He also thought that all citizens should have the right to carry weapons. After this first assembly ended, Buzot went back to Évreux. There, he became the head of the local criminal court.
Joining the National Convention
In 1792, Buzot was elected to the National Convention. This was the new government assembly during the Revolution. He joined a political group called the Girondists. He was good friends with Madame Roland, who was also a Girondist leader.
Buzot often argued with Jean-Paul Marat, a powerful leader from a rival group called the Mountain. Buzot wanted to create a special army, a National Guard, made up of people from different parts of France. This army would protect the Convention from angry crowds in Paris. His idea was approved, but it was never fully put into action. Because of this, many people in Paris started to dislike him.
Voting on King Louis XVI
During the trial of King Louis XVI, Buzot voted for the king to be put to death. However, he also wanted the people to have a chance to vote on the decision. He also wanted to delay the sentence.
Buzot supported harsh punishments for émigrés. These were Royalists who had left France and did not return. He also wanted to punish anyone who tried to bring back the monarchy. At the same time, he disagreed with other powerful leaders like Georges Danton. He did not want to create a Committee of Public Safety or a Revolutionary Tribunal. These were powerful groups that made quick decisions and held trials during the Revolution.
Escape and Final Days
In June 1793, Buzot and other Girondists were declared outlaws. He managed to escape and found safety in Normandy. There, he tried to organize an uprising against the Convention, but it was quickly stopped.
The Convention then ordered that Buzot's house be torn down. They also said a column should be built there. This column would say that the house belonged to "the villain Buzot" who "conspired for the overthrow of the French Republic".
Buzot fled with another Girondist, Jérôme Pétion de Villeneuve. They hid near Bordeaux. A week later, they were found dead in a field. Buzot left behind his Memoirs, which were published many years later in 1823.
