Maximilien Robespierre

Maximilien Robespierre was a highly influential political figure of the French Revolutionary era. He became a part of the National Assembly and participated in the battle for the rights of average people. He was famous for his strong beliefs in democracy and detest of monarchy. After he was elected first deputy for Paris of the National Convention, he stongly supported attacks against the king that eventually led to Louis XIV's trial and execution. He then continued to lead committes and powerful movements designed to govern the now monarch-less country, executing anyone who got in his way. He then tried to force France to take on a new official religion, a cult of the Supreme Being. Robespierre was conspired against and later executed by smaller groups of revolutionaries after his actions caused him to become more and more unpopular.