The Republic, War, and the Terror 1792–1794

The period from September 1792 to July 1794 saw France become a republic, execute its king, wage war against most of Europe, and descend into the most radical and violent phase of the revolution. The Terror — in which approximately 16,600 people were executed by guillotine and perhaps 40,000 died in total — remains the most debated aspect of the French Revolution.

Key Definition: The Terror (la Terreur) refers to the period from September 1793 to July 1794 during which the revolutionary government used systematic violence against perceived enemies of the republic. The phrase "terror is the order of the day" was adopted by the Convention on 5 September 1793.

---

The September Massacres (2–7 September 1792)

As Prussian armies advanced towards Paris, panic gripped the city. Crowds broke into prisons and massacred approximately 1,100–1,400 prisoners — including priests, aristocrats, common criminals, and prostitutes — in five days of chaotic violence.

A-Level Analysis: The September Massacres revealed the terrifying potential of popular violence uncontrolled by authority. They horrified moderate opinion both in France and abroad and helped create the image of the revolution as inherently violent.

---