Joseph Martin-Dauch
Encyclopedia
Joseph Martin-Dauch, was a French politician who represented Castelnaudary
as a member of the Third Estate in the Estates-General of 1789. He is remembered as the only member not to vote in favor of the Tennis Court Oath on the grounds that he could not faithfully execute any decisions that were not sanctioned by the king.
, where he graduated with a degree in law in 1762.
, in turn, until the pen was passes to Martin-Dauch; he declared that his constituents did not send him to insult the monarchy, and that he would protest against the oath. The other representatives immediately protested, but Martin-Dauch stood up and affirmed that he could not execute any decisions not sanctioned by the king. The president of the assembly tried to convince Martin-Dauch that members had the right to refrain, but not to object to the wishes of the overall congregation. In spite of all of this, Martin-Dauch stood firm and wrote "opponent" in front of his name. Shouts of indignation rose up throughout the hall, including cries of "Death!", but a bailiff named Guillot took him out the back door and into the street.
On the day Louis XVI went to the meeting to give approval the constitution, the other representatives remained seated, but Martin-Dauch true to his resolution and independence, rose and acknowledged the king. After the Estates-General ended, Martin-Dauch retired to Toulouse. He was thrown in prison during the Reign of Terror
, but was afterwards released. He survived at least one assassination attempt.
Castelnaudary
Castelnaudary is a commune in the Aude department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in south France. It is in the former province of the Lauragais and famous for cassoulet of which it claims to be the world capital, and of which it is a major producer....
as a member of the Third Estate in the Estates-General of 1789. He is remembered as the only member not to vote in favor of the Tennis Court Oath on the grounds that he could not faithfully execute any decisions that were not sanctioned by the king.
Early Life
Joseph Martin-Dauch was the son of Antoine Martin Dauch, a counselor to the king, who owned a vineyard, and Marie Barbe Latour. He was educated at ToulouseToulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
, where he graduated with a degree in law in 1762.
Tennis Court Oath
After finding themselves locked out of their assembly room, the representatives of the Third Estate gathered in a nearby tennis court. The representative Mounier proposed that the members present make a solemn oath never to separate, and to meet wherever circumstances require, until the constitution of the kingdom is established and strengthened on solid foundations. Each representative signed the oathTennis Court Oath
The Tennis Court Oath was a pivotal event during the first days of the French Revolution. The Oath was a pledge signed by 576 of the 577 members from the Third Estate who were locked out of a meeting of the Estates-General on 20 June 1789...
, in turn, until the pen was passes to Martin-Dauch; he declared that his constituents did not send him to insult the monarchy, and that he would protest against the oath. The other representatives immediately protested, but Martin-Dauch stood up and affirmed that he could not execute any decisions not sanctioned by the king. The president of the assembly tried to convince Martin-Dauch that members had the right to refrain, but not to object to the wishes of the overall congregation. In spite of all of this, Martin-Dauch stood firm and wrote "opponent" in front of his name. Shouts of indignation rose up throughout the hall, including cries of "Death!", but a bailiff named Guillot took him out the back door and into the street.
Life after the Tennis Court Oath
His signature is visible on the original oath, but it is very choppy and virtually unreadable: a sign of how hurriedly it was signed. Jean Sylvain Bailly would later push for Martin-Dauch to be withdrawn, and when this didn't work simply warned Martin-Dauch not to attend any further meetings. Martin-Dauch ignored these threats, however, and continued to take his place among his colleagues. He continued to sit and participate in discussions until the end of the Estates-General.On the day Louis XVI went to the meeting to give approval the constitution, the other representatives remained seated, but Martin-Dauch true to his resolution and independence, rose and acknowledged the king. After the Estates-General ended, Martin-Dauch retired to Toulouse. He was thrown in prison during the Reign of Terror
Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror , also known simply as The Terror , was a period of violence that occurred after the onset of the French Revolution, incited by conflict between rival political factions, the Girondins and the Jacobins, and marked by mass executions of "enemies of...
, but was afterwards released. He survived at least one assassination attempt.