Maximilien Robespierre and the Reign of Terror (Full Series)

The year is 1793, Louis XVI has just been executed. France is devastated by its civil war and is now threatened by the 1st Coalition. Paranoia and terror, oh, terror grips the country by its throat as the people ask for more and more purges. As a result, almost 17,000 are executed in just over a year. France now lives under the tyranny of the Committee of Public Safety, with at its head, Maximilien Robespierre.

Hi there! This is Barris, a French – American that lived most of his life in France and is passionate about learning, exploring, hiking and cooking. It’s a vast and beautiful world out there so join our as we discover the historical, cultural and culinary heritage of France, Europe and the rest of the World.

EDIT: Camille Desmoulins compared Robespierre to Emperor Tiberius, not Caesar.

Music:
- "Sarabande" by Haendel
- "La Strasbourgeoise"
- "7th Symphony, 2nd Movement" by Beethoven
- "Adagio in G Minor" by Tomaso Albinoni
- "Palladio" by Karl Jenkins

[ThisisBarris]

My dream is to make a TV show about the Reign of Terror so if you work for HBO, please hit me up

[jke]

“Judged by his motives, Robespierre was one of the most virtuous men who ever lived. Yet it was the utopian radicalism of that very virtue that made him kill those less virtuous than himself, brought him to the scaffold, and destroyed the revolution of which he was a leader” (Morgenthau 1967). Robespierre wanted to fight monsters but ended up becoming one himself. The French Revolution descended into a crazy circus of bloodshed and ego. Beautiful video. History is often stranger than fiction.

[GrumpyLoco]

Certainly not a Robespierre fan but I respect the way that this video portrays him as less a monster and more so a complicated man who's so blinded by his ideals and the enabling of his closest supporters that he ends up becoming a paranoid hypocrite. It makes me feel for him, despite his horrific actions.

Excellent video!

[valinormons]

"Revolutions are born in blood and there is never enough shed to satisfy everyone." But this is an incredible video, and although I can't say I enjoyed it, I applaud it. 230 years have now passed and the events of that time are still ringing and not faintly. Your presentation was masterful and to the point in describing what can happen to those who are in control until they're not. Vive la France!

[greenghoul]

Robespierre opposing the death penalty in his career as a lawyer is incredibly ironic

[edmund]

The Reign of Terror explained with a Limerick:
"There once was a name named Robespierre,
Who hated how France was unfair.
So he beheaded the royals
and all those not loyal
then anyone else he could spare."

[cofmivb]

this is one of thee greatest history videos on youtube. the editing, the narration, the soundtrack. bravo. absolutely phenomenal.

[cebonvieuxjack]

This was a perfect serie, I can't even imagine the work you had to put into it. Good job man, can't wait for the next one

[JustinLaFleur]

Love this series. Hope you do a more detailed and thorough version of the entire French Revolution soon. That whole span from 1789 to 1799 was on of the biggest most chaotic displays of anarchy and quests for power amongst the various political factions in history.

[mercymhlanga-gnit]

As a high school student majoring in History amongst other subjects, i am proud to mention that this video has helped enormously in understanding of the REIGN OF TERROR....THANK YOU😊

[anxiousfoodperson]

I don't know if anyone's mentioned this (because I only read the top comments) but your voice and narration style add a lot to this. Even without them it would be a very well made video about a fascinating topic, but the way you tell this story brings it to life.

*hits subscribe button*

[igor_pavlovich]

For years since i watched this masterpiece i still think that its best video about that time of history!

[zigzag]

0:53 May 6th 1758 "Which happens to be my birthday too" . You are one old Baguette

[uthoshantm]

They don't teach this in French schools. The French public is not aware of the horrors that took place during that period.

[katiev]

I’m american but I’m trying to take a deeper dive into French history, amazing videos, so in depth, thank you

[ninaa]

I'm literally 5 seconds in and already blown away by the production value and quality. You have earned a sub.

[francomckellar]

Factual, entertaining, and well narrated. One of the best historic documentary videos on YouTube!

[gabriellekelly]

Researching French history because I learned that my birth father's birth name was Pepion. He was of French and native American decent. Apparently one of our French ancestors was a pioneer early on in American history and married a blackfoot Indian woman in Montana.

[adamfrazer]

I know knowledge can be imparted by anyone but there is something special and captivating when a topic like this one is brought to us by a Frenchman - many thanks for your massive efforts and devotion to such a pivotal point in this planet's history 👍🍻

** I really appreciate knowing some of the exchanges, the quotes and written records you've managed to find room for - this program is so much more visceral for me than any I've watched on France's Revolution and your production values make this very engaging.

[daveacbickford]

Absolutely spectacular video mate, superbly done, a properly dramatic telling of the tale of such a brutal time.