Louis Antoine de Saint-Just (1767–94) was a French revolutionary, political philosopher, and Jacobin leader, dubbed the “Archangel of Terror” for his role in the Reign of Terror. A close ally of Maximilien Robespierre, he was a key figure in the French Revolution.
Born in Decize, France, he studied law in Reims before entering revolutionary politics. In 1792, he was elected to the National Convention, advocating for King Louis XVI’s execution. As a Committee of Public Safety member, he helped draft the Constitution of 1793 and introduced the Ventôse Decrees, redistributing property to the poor.
Saint-Just led military reforms, ensuring French republican victories, including the Battle of Fleurus (1794.) His rigid stance on virtue and equality made him feared yet respected. After Robespierre’s fall, he was arrested and guillotined on July 28, 1794, at age 26.
His works include L’Esprit de la Révolution et de la Constitution de France (1791,) outlining his political philosophy, and Fragments sur les Institutions Républicaines (1794,) exploring governance and revolutionary ideals.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Louis Antoine de Saint-Just
Keep cool and you command everybody.
—Louis Antoine de Saint-Just
Topics: Anger, Self-Discovery
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