Girondins
Political group made up of French intellectuals and businessmen. The Girondins were a political group made up of French intellectuals and businessmen, belonging to the bourgeoisie of the French Revolution . These were supporters of a peaceful and moderate revolution , and were opposed to the revolutionary ideologies and methods of the Jacobins . In this article we will provide you the information about Who were the Girondists?
They were called Girondists because their group was formed in Gironde, southwestern France, but they were also known as “ brissotins” since one of their leaders was named Jacques Pierre Brissot .
The Girondists staged important disputes with the Jacobins at the National Convention . By 1791, this political group ruled the Assembly and sanctioned a constitution with principles of parliamentary monarchy for all of France , where the upper class ruled the country.
However, the situation changed in 1793, when they were expelled by the Jacobins for conspiring against the lower classes of the country. The Girondists were persecuted, tried, and later executed by their opponents.
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Ideas of the Girondists
From the beginning of the time of the Girondists, their ideas were to encourage the revolution in a peaceful way, with the intention of seeking an agreement between the monarchy and the nobility .
The Girondists belonged to the upper class of society, the bourgeoisie. Their main fear was to lose the privileges they had obtained over the years, for which they tried to limit the power of the king and give power to the parliament , which would be made up of the upper classes.
Mainly, the Girondists did not admit democracy for the lower classes . This political group obtained a certain popularity under the command of King Louis XVI , who would later be executed on the orders of the opposition.
Role of the Girondists in the French Revolution
During the French Revolution, the Girondists occupied a large part of the National Assembly. They had 175 deputies and during the Convention stage they held important positions.
After the execution of the king, their popularity was decreasing due to the numerous economic demands that they had on the part of the peasants.
In 1793, after the Girondists succeeded in sanctioning their own constitution, the opposition group took control over the Assembly and little by little it took away political power. Many Girondins were executed for holding opposing thoughts to the Jacobins, who now dominated the Assembly .
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Girondin leaders
The Girondin leaders were:
- Jacques Pierre Brissot (1754 – 1793) : writer and main political leader of the Girondists. He was guillotined by the Jacobins after losing control over the Assembly.
- Nicolás de Condorcet (1743 – 1794) : Girondin philosopher and leader in the Assembly. He voted against the execution of Louis XVI for not being in favor of the death penalty.
- Pierre Victurnien Vergniaud (1753 – 1793) : lawyer and leader of the Girondists. He led the Convention and the Legislative Assembly. He rendered the verdict ordering the execution of Louis XVI.
- Jean-Marie Roland de la Platière (1734 – 1793) : politician who was first Jacobin and then Girondin. He was minister of the interior in the Convention and committed suicide when he learned that his opposition party was looking for him to execute him.
