Jean-Lambert Tallien facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean-Lambert Tallien
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Portrait by François Bonneville, late 18th century
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| 38th President of the National Convention | |
| In office 21 March 1794 – 5 April 1794 |
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| Preceded by | Philippe Rühl |
| Succeeded by | Jean-Pierre-André Amar |
| Deputy in the National Convention | |
| In office 20 September 1792 – 2 November 1795 |
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| Constituency | Seine-et-Oise |
| Deputy in the Council of Five Hundred | |
| In office 2 November 1795 – 10 November 1799 |
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| Constituency | Seine-et-Oise |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 January 1767 Paris, Kingdom of France |
| Died | 16 November 1820 (aged 53) Paris, Kingdom of France |
| Resting place | Père Lachaise Cemetery |
| Political party | Jacobin (1789–1794) Montagnard (1792–1794) Thermidorian (1794–1799) |
| Spouse |
Thérésa Tallien
(m. 1794; div. 1802) |
| Occupation | Politician, journalist, representative on mission |
| Signature |  |
Jean-Lambert Tallien (born January 23, 1767 – died November 16, 1820) was an important French politician during the French Revolution. At first, he was a strong supporter of the Reign of Terror, a very strict period. But later, he disagreed with its leader, Maximilien Robespierre. Tallien is best known for being a key person in the Thermidorian Reaction. This event led to the fall of Robespierre and ended the Reign of Terror.
Contents
Early Life and Journalism
Jean-Lambert Tallien was born in Paris. His father worked for a rich nobleman, the Marquis de Bercy. The marquis noticed Jean-Lambert's intelligence and helped him get an education. He started working as a lawyer's assistant.
When the French Revolution began, Tallien left his job. He started working in a printing office. By 1791, he was in charge of the printing department for the Comte de Provence.
Tallien came up with an idea for a "journal-affiche," which was like a newspaper poster. After King Louis XVI tried to escape in 1791, Tallien started putting up large printed sheets around Paris twice a week. This poster-newspaper was called L'Ami des Citoyens (The Friend of Citizens). The Jacobin Club, a powerful political group, paid for his newspaper. This made Tallien well-known to the leaders of the Revolution. He became even more involved in politics by helping organize a big celebration in April 1792.
Joining the Paris Commune
In July 1792, Tallien spoke for a group of Sans-culottes (ordinary working people). They asked the Legislative Assembly to bring back the Mayor of Paris, Jérôme Pétion de Villeneuve. Tallien was very active when people stormed the Tuileries Palace on August 10, 1792. On that day, he became a secretary for the Paris Commune, a revolutionary government in Paris.
He worked hard in his new role. He often spoke to the Assembly for the Commune. He was also involved in the September Massacres of 1792. During these events, many prisoners were killed. Tallien defended these actions. He even sent a message to other parts of France, suggesting they do similar things. However, he also helped some people escape the violence and protected others who were suspected of being against the Revolution.
National Convention and Missions
Tallien was elected as a deputy to the National Convention for the Seine-et-Oise area. He was quite young for this role. He joined a group called The Mountain, who were very strong supporters of the Revolution. He defended Jean-Paul Marat, another revolutionary leader. Tallien voted to execute King Louis XVI. On the day the King was executed, January 21, 1793, Tallien was chosen to be a member of the Committee of General Security. This committee was very powerful.
In March 1793, he was sent as a representative on mission to the Indre-et-Loire region. After returning to Paris, he played a part in the uprising in May 1793. This uprising led to the removal of the Girondists, another political group. For a few months, he kept a low profile.
In September 1793, Tallien was sent to Bordeaux with another official. This was when the Reign of Terror was being organized by powerful committees. Tallien was known for being one of the officials sent to enforce the Terror in different regions. He quickly took control in Bordeaux. He used a method described as "fear and flour." This meant executing Girondist leaders and controlling food supplies to make people obey.
However, after a short time in Bordeaux, Tallien started to change. He became less extreme. This change might have been because of his relationship with Thérésa Cabarrús. She was a wealthy woman. Tallien not only saved her life but also fell in love with her. Thérésa was a calming influence. She saved many lives by asking Tallien to be lenient. Because of this, she was later called Notre-Dame de Thermidor (Our Lady of Thermidor).
After Tallien became involved with Thérésa, the number of executions in Bordeaux went down. Tallien was elected president of the Convention from March 24 to April 5, 1794. During this time, he had to deal with the trials of Georges Danton and Camille Desmoulins.
The Thermidorian Reaction
Tallien was called back to Paris from Bordeaux. He was accused of being too moderate by the Committee of Public Safety. Thérésa Cabarrús, who was with him, was arrested again. She was going to be put on trial and likely executed. She sent a letter to Tallien on July 26. The letter included a dagger and accused him of being weak for not trying to free her.
In May-June, Robespierre removed Tallien from the Jacobin Club. From then on, Tallien became a main planner to overthrow Robespierre. He joined with others who opposed the Terror. Robespierre wanted to remove many of his colleagues. Tallien was one of the people Robespierre planned to target. So, Robespierre's rivals decided to act first.
During a meeting of the National Convention on July 27 (known as 9 Thermidor), Tallien interrupted Robespierre's supporter, Louis Antoine de Saint-Just. Tallien then went to the speaker's platform. He held up a dagger and threatened to stab Robespierre if the Convention did not accuse him. He called Robespierre "the new Cromwell" (a powerful English leader). This action worked. Robespierre and his closest allies were arrested and executed the next day.
Tallien, as a leader of the Thermidorian Reaction, was elected to the Committee of Public Safety. He helped close down the Revolutionary Tribunal (a special court) and the Jacobin Club. He also spoke out against officials like Jean-Baptiste Carrier and Joseph Le Bon. These men had been very harsh representatives of the Committee in other cities. Tallien also fought against the rebels in May 1795.
Tallien's actions showed that he understood people were tired of the Terror. He realized that a change was coming. It was better to be part of that change than to be crushed by it. During these months, he was supported by Thérésa. They married on December 26, 1794. She became a leader in Paris's social life. This marriage helped Tallien change his image from a harsh Terrorist to a "reformed terrorist."
To gain public support, Tallien said that many prisoners were patriots and enemies of Robespierre. In the next five days, almost 500 prisoners were released. Many of them were moderates or people who opposed Robespierre. Tallien and the Thermidorians quickly ended the law that allowed the Committee of Public Safety to arrest people without a hearing.
Tallien was elected to the Committee of Public Safety for his role in 9 Thermidor. He completely changed his earlier views. He appealed to a new group called the jeunesse dorée (gilded youth). They saw him as their leader. He said he would rather see twenty aristocrats freed than one patriot kept in chains. Tallien also helped pass a measure to publish lists of freed prisoners. This made the National Convention more responsible.
Soon after, Tallien and his allies were removed from the Jacobin clubs. In September, someone tried to assassinate Tallien. He received minor injuries. This event gave Tallien and his allies public support. They used this support to attack the Jacobin clubs. They claimed there was a Jacobin-Terrorist plot. Tallien and his allies used public statements and physical force to shut down the main Jacobin club in Paris.
At this point, Jean-Lambert Tallien had completely changed. He went from being a symbol of the Terror to a right-wing leader. In 1795, Tallien began to campaign for free speech. This made him more popular with the jeunesse dorée, as many of them were journalists. He restarted his newspaper, L'Ami des Citoyens. He helped the right-wing groups attack the remaining leftists. During the "White Terror," the Thermidorians did not stop the return of royalist supporters.
Eventually, the Thermidorians ordered all French people who had left the country (émigrés) to give up their weapons. They also ordered all foreigners to leave. However, Tallien was talking with Spain about bringing back King Louis XVIII. In July 1795, a large group of émigrés, with British help, tried to invade France. General Lazare Hoche defeated them. Tallien was sent to the scene by the National Convention. He set up military courts to try the émigré prisoners. Under the law, all émigrés were found guilty and executed. Tallien was held responsible for this. He lost support from the jeunesse dorée and the right wing. His political power greatly decreased.
Later Political Roles
After the French Directory began, Tallien's political importance ended. He was a member of the Council of Five Hundred. But moderate politicians saw him as someone who had enforced the Terror. The extreme politicians saw him as a traitor. His wife, Thérésa, also left him.
Napoleon Bonaparte took Tallien on his military expedition to Egypt in June 1798. Tallien worked in the political economy section of the Institut d'Égypte. After Cairo was captured, he edited the official newspaper there. Later, he was sent back to France. On his way, a British ship captured him. He was taken to London. There, he was well-received by British politicians.
Final Years
When Tallien returned to France in 1802, he divorced Thérésa. For some time, he had no job. Eventually, with help from powerful friends, Tallien was appointed consul in Alicante, Spain. He stayed there until he lost sight in one eye due to yellow fever.
Back in Paris, Tallien lived on half-pay until the fall of the Empire in 1815. During the Bourbon Restoration, he was not exiled like other "regicides" (those who voted for Louis XVI's execution). This was because of his poor health. He spent his last years in poverty. He had to sell his book collection to support himself. In May 1818, he asked the government for money. He was granted 1000 francs. Tallien died on November 16, 1820, from leprosy. He was buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery.
Works
- Discours sur les causes qui ont produit la Révolution française (Paris, 1791, 8 vols)
- Mémoire sur l'administration de l'Égypte a l'arrivée des Français
See also
In Spanish: Jean-Lambert Tallien para niños
