Maximilien de Robespierre

This French lawyer and politician emerged as one of the most prominent and influential figures of the French Revolution. He was a skilled articulator of the beliefs of the left-wing bourgeoisie, advocating against the death penalty and for the abolition of slavery, while championing equality of rights and universal suffrage. Supporters lauded him as 'The Incorruptible,' while adversaries condemned him as a 'bloodthirsty dictator.' He played a pivotal role during the period of the Reign of Terror, an era that concluded shortly after his own arrest and execution.