Augustin Robespierre
He chose to stand with his infamous brother at the guillotine, a final act of loyalty that sealed his fate in the French Revolution's bloody climax.
1763–1794 (age 31)·French lawyer and revolutionary·Birthday: January 21
Biography
Augustin Robespierre lived his entire public life in the long shadow of his older brother, Maximilien. A lawyer from Arras like his sibling, he followed the revolutionary path to Paris, serving as a representative on mission for the National Convention. His work, particularly in the south of France, was marked by the same zealous fervor that characterized the Committee of Public Safety's reign. Unlike many who sought distance when the political winds shifted, Augustin's defining moment came on 9 Thermidor in 1794. When the Convention turned against Maximilien and ordered his arrest, Augustin boldly declared, 'I am as guilty as my brother; I share his virtues and I wish to share his fate.' His request was granted. At age 31, he was guillotined alongside Maximilien and their allies, his story a poignant footnote of familial solidarity in the revolution's chaotic end.
#1 When Augustin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1763
Augustin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1763Born
1768Started school
1776Became a teenager
1779Could drive
1781Could vote
1784Turned 21
1793Turned 30
1794Died at 31
Key Achievements
- Served as a deputy in the National Convention during the French Revolution.
- Acted as a representative on mission to oversee the army and enforce revolutionary ideals in the Alpes-Maritimes and Var regions.
- Was elected president of the Jacobin Club, a key revolutionary political group, in November 1793.
- Voluntarily submitted to arrest to share the fate of his brother Maximilien Robespierre.
Did You Know?
He was originally a lawyer for the Council of Arras, the same profession and location as his brother.
During his mission to Nice, he was instrumental in annexing the territory to France and renaming it 'Marratime Alps'.
The painter Jacques-Louis David, a supporter of the Robespierres, included a sketch of Augustin in his famous unfinished work 'The Tennis Court Oath'.
His full name was Augustin Bon Joseph de Robespierre.
“I am as guilty as my brother; I share his virtues and I wish to share his fate.”
