Podcast Summary: The Rest Is History, Episode 544 - The French Revolution: The September Massacres (Part 1)

Introduction

In Episode 544 of The Rest Is History, hosts Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland delve into one of the most harrowing episodes of the French Revolution: the September Massacres. Released on March 3, 2025, this episode provides a comprehensive exploration of the events, political dynamics, and enduring historical debates surrounding this period of intense violence and upheaval in Paris.

Political Context in 1792 Paris

The episode opens with Dominic Sandbrook setting the scene in 1792, a tumultuous year for France embroiled in war since April. Parisian politics is characterized by a fierce rivalry between two factions of the Jacobins: the Girondins, led by Brissot, and the more radical Montagnards, spearheaded by Maximilien Robespierre.

Tom Holland explains the political spectrum of the time, comparing it to contemporary left-right dynamics:

“People on the right now, on the far right, right, as we might anachronistically put it, is the default position that had existed three or four years before... on the hard left, you have Robespierre, the Montagnards.”
[03:20]

Sandbrook further elaborates, emphasizing that the conflict is essentially between left-wing groups, as the fall of the monarchy has effectively eliminated the traditional right:

“It's now a fight between the left and the hard left.”
[09:36]

Fear of Prussian Invasion and Internal Threats

The anxiety in Paris is palpable, fueled by the advancing Prussian army under the Duke of Brunswick, who threatens "exemplary vengeance against the people of Paris." This external threat exacerbates internal paranoia, leading to widespread rumors of conspiracies and planned uprisings within the city.

Dominic notes the pervasive fear:

“The atmosphere in Paris is haunted by fear and by a sense of coming catastrophe and apocalypse... the Duke of Brunswick... is coming west. He is now being pursued by a smaller French army under General Dumouriez.”
[10:03]

Initiation of the September Massacres

Amidst this climate of fear, the Girondin-led Provisional Government, with Danton as a prominent figure, issues proclamations warning of traitors within the prisons. This leads to organized raids on Parisian prisons beginning on September 2, 1792.

Tom Holland describes Danton's strategic approach:

“Danton gives his address. There are posters going up across the city. To arms. To arms. The enemy is at the gates.”
[17:58]

The hosts discuss how these raids transitioned from spontaneous mob actions to more structured death squads, known as the Septem Briseurs, led by figures like Stanislas Maillart.

Case Study: The Princess de Lamballe

A significant portion of the episode focuses on the brutal murder of the Princess de Lamballe, a close friend of Marie Antoinette. Her assassination becomes emblematic of the massacres' brutality and the anti-aristocratic fervor of the revolutionaries.

Dominic recounts her final moments:

“She receives a sabre blow behind her head... another sabre blow hits her eye. Blood gushed out. Her dress was stained with it... forced to walk over corpses.”
[36:16]

Tom adds vivid details from eyewitness accounts, highlighting the gruesome nature of her death:

“...the playwright Louis Sebastian Mercier wrote that the killers partook of her corpse, asserting cannibalistic acts...”
[40:07]

Historiographical Debates

The episode delves into the historical interpretations of the September Massacres. Sandbrook and Holland discuss how accounts of extreme violence, such as mutilations and cannibalism, are often viewed with skepticism by modern historians. They reference debates between historians like Pierre Caron, who downplays such atrocities, and Simon Sharma, who condemns the massacres as a precursor to 20th-century genocides.

Dominic critiques Pierre Caron's stance:

“Simon Sharma wrote his book Citizens and describes Caron’s work as a 'monument of intellectual cowardice and moral self-delusion.'”
[51:08]

Holland counters by agreeing that many of the most sensational accounts are likely propagandistic exaggerations, though they acknowledge the methodical and terrifying nature of the killings:

“It is murder done in the cause of virtue.”
[44:57]

Public Perception and Aftermath

Throughout the massacres, the general populace of Paris largely supported the actions, viewing them as necessary purges to protect the revolution. The hosts cite contemporary diaries and newspapers that justified the killings as essential for France's survival.

Dominic summarizes public sentiment:

“The people took the extreme measure, but the only appropriate one, of forestalling the horrors that were being prepared against them and of showing no mercy to those who would not have shown any to them.”
[48:31]

Conclusion and Cliffhanger

As the episode draws to a close, Sandbrook and Holland set the stage for the subsequent developments in the French Revolution. They hint at the approach of General Dumouriez, the potential for further bloodshed, and the looming National Convention’s decisions regarding the future of the monarchy. This sets up a compelling lead-in to the next episode, promising deeper exploration into the escalation towards the Reign of Terror.

“What happens next will change the course of European history.”
[57:53]

Notable Quotes

• Dominic Sandbrook:
  “The atmosphere in Paris is haunted by fear and by a sense of coming catastrophe and apocalypse.”
  [10:03]

• Tom Holland:
  “It is murder done in the cause of virtue.”
  [44:57]

• Dominic Sandbrook:
  “Simon Sharma wrote his book Citizens and describes Caron’s work as a 'monument of intellectual cowardice and moral self-delusion.'”
  [51:08]

Key Takeaways

• The September Massacres were a product of both external military threats and intense internal political rivalry in Paris.
• Organized death squads systematically eliminated perceived enemies, blending methodical justice with horrifying violence.
• Historical interpretations of these events remain contentious, with debates over the accuracy of reported atrocities.
• Public support for the massacres was high, influenced by pervasive fear and revolutionary zeal.
• The massacres set the stage for the subsequent Reign of Terror, fundamentally altering the trajectory of the French Revolution.

Conclusion

Episode 544 of The Rest Is History offers a nuanced and detailed examination of the September Massacres, balancing vivid narrative accounts with critical historiographical analysis. For those unfamiliar with the event, this episode serves as an essential primer, illuminating the complexities and brutal realities of revolutionary Paris.