La Terreur

La Terreur, or the Reign of Terror, was a period during the French Revolution from 1793 to 1794 marked by extreme political repression and violence. The revolutionary government, fearing enemies of the revolution, executed thousands by guillotine, including King Louis XVI and many perceived threats, such as aristocrats and political opponents. Led by the Committee of Public Safety, particularly Maximilien Robespierre, this era aimed to consolidate power and eliminate dissent. The Reign of Terror ended with Robespierre's own execution in 1794, leading to a more moderate phase in the revolution and reflecting the tension between liberty and security.