Georges Danton

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"We need audacity, and yet more audacity, and always audacity, and France shall be saved!"

―Georges Danton during a speech, 1792.

Georges Jacques Danton (1759 – 1794) was a French lawyer and a leading figure of the early French Revolution. He was a moderate Jacobin, and eventually started turning against Jacobin leader Maximilien de Robespierre. He was guillotined in 1794 on accusations of venality and leniency to enemies of the revolution.

Biography

Revolutionary beginnings

At the beginning of the revolution, Danton held little influence. A member of the Cordeliers Club and a close friend and ally of Camille Desmoulins, he was a regular patron of the Café Procope. After failing to be elected to the Legislative Assembly, he was given a subordinate position in the Paris Commune. He aligned himself with the Jacobin Club, eventually becoming a part of The Mountain. Danton also became an ally of the Assassin Order at some point. Following King Louis XVI's capture after the flight to Varennes, Danton called for his execution. However, he would later retract this position and simply call for his abdication.

Rise to power

Although Danton's role in overthrowing of King Louis on 10 August 1792 is unclear, he became the French Minister of Justice that day. He took on Fabre d'Églantine, who had been involved in shady dealings with him, as his secretary.

The Girondist government had declared war on Austria and Prussia in the spring of 1792. The forces of the Duke of Brunswick threatened Paris, and the Comte and Vicomte de Gambais led an Austrian spyring which leaked intelligence on the city's defenses. On 2 September, Danton spoke before the National Convention, calling for "more audacity" in the face of overwhelming odds against Austria.

Later that day, Danton pretended to be a member of the spyring, being approached by one of the Austrian spies. Danton then called on his guards to arrest the spy. The spy soon eliminated the guards however, and Danton dueled with him. At this time, Arno Dorian and a team of Assassins arrived and killed the spy. After holding off a group of attackers, the Assassins were directed to steal documents from the spies before they could reach a courier. The Assassins then killed the Comte and Vicomte de Gambais, along with their accomplices.

Danton's speech was credited with rallying the troops. On 20 September, the French Army defeated the Austrians at the Battle of Valmy.

Danton's management of the Ministry of Justice was criticized by the Girondists, and he was accused of causing the September Massacres, although no evidence supports this. Troughout the revolution, Danton was alleged to have purchased national assets to consolidate his personal fortune, while playing both sides of the revolution. After his time as Minister of Justice, he would never render accounts, and 200,000 livres vanished during his tenure.

Downfall

As the Jacobins rose to power following the fall of the monarchy, Danton became a central political figure along with Maximilien de Robespierre and Jean-Paul Marat, helping to found the Committee of Public Safety. In the second half of 1793, Robespierre put out a warrant for the arrest of every Girondist.

Upon learning of this, Danton protested, wishing to reconcile with the Girondists. Confronting Robespierre in his office, Danton referred to the National Guard Commandant François Hanriot as a butcher, before being taken away by the guards.

Gallery

• 
  A painting of Danton from 1792
• 
  An 1841 engraving of a 1793 painting of Danton

Reference

• Assassin's Creed: Unity