#SansCulottesDefender

[tmarshconnors]

“It is the characteristic of the revolutionary to be always on the alert, always suspicious of those in power.”

Jean-Paul Marat was a French political theorist, physician, and scientist. A journalist and politician during the French Revolution, he was a vigorous defender of the sans-culottes and a radical voice, publishing his views in pamphlets, placards, and newspapers.

Born: 24 May 1743, Boudry, Switzerland

Assassinated: 13 July 1793, Paris, France

Radical Journalist and Revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat was a fiery political activist who used his newspaper, L'Ami du peuple ("The Friend of the People"), to incite the masses against the French monarchy and later the revolutionary government’s perceived enemies. His radical views often called for violent action against the aristocracy and anyone opposed to revolutionary ideals.

The Champion of the Sans-Culottes Marat was a staunch advocate for the sans-culottes, the working-class revolutionaries who made up the backbone of the French Revolution. He believed they were the true defenders of the Revolution and should have a greater role in shaping the new French government.

A Doctor Turned Revolutionary Marat was originally trained as a physician. He used his medical background in his early years, but after moving to Paris, he became increasingly involved in politics. His pamphlets and political writings made him one of the most influential figures in the Revolution.

A Martyr to His Cause Marat’s radicalism eventually led to his assassination by Charlotte Corday, a Girondist sympathizer, on July 13, 1793. She believed his fiery rhetoric and calls for violent retribution were detrimental to the Revolution. Marat’s death turned him into a martyr for the radical cause.

A Controversial Legacy While Marat is remembered as a hero by some for his radical defence of the people and his role in the Revolution, his legacy is highly controversial. His violent calls for bloodshed and his part in the Reign of Terror have made him a figure of both admiration and condemnation. He remains a symbol of the uncompromising spirit of revolutionary zeal.