Ventôse Decrees
Encyclopedia
The Ventôse Decrees were decrees proposed on February 26 and March 3, 1794 (8 and 13 Ventôse
, An II in the French Republican Calendar
) by the French revolutionary
leader Louis de Saint-Just
. Saint-Just proposed to confiscate the property of exiles and opponents of the Revolution, and redistribute it to the needy. Saint-Just and other radicals argued that the enemies of the revolution had forfeited their civil rights, including the right to own property.
Robespierre supported the Decrees in theory, but realized that he lacked the support to implement them, and efforts to enforce the Decrees ended within a few months.
Ventôse
Ventôse was the sixth month in the French Republican Calendar. The month was named after the Latin word ventosus, which means windy.Ventôse was the third month of the winter quarter . It started between 19 February and 21 February. It ended between 20 March and 21 March...
, An II in the French Republican Calendar
French Republican Calendar
The French Republican Calendar or French Revolutionary Calendar was a calendar created and implemented during the French Revolution, and used by the French government for about 12 years from late 1793 to 1805, and for 18 days by the Paris Commune in 1871...
) by the French revolutionary
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
leader Louis de Saint-Just
Louis de Saint-Just
Louis Antoine Léon de Saint-Just , usually known as Saint-Just, was a military and political leader during the French Revolution. The youngest of the deputies elected to the National Convention in 1792, Saint-Just rose quickly in their ranks and became a major leader of the government of the French...
. Saint-Just proposed to confiscate the property of exiles and opponents of the Revolution, and redistribute it to the needy. Saint-Just and other radicals argued that the enemies of the revolution had forfeited their civil rights, including the right to own property.
Robespierre supported the Decrees in theory, but realized that he lacked the support to implement them, and efforts to enforce the Decrees ended within a few months.
External links
- David Andress, The Terror:The Merciless War for Freedom in Revolutionary France (2005), p. 302, Google Books excerpt
- Miguel A. Faria, "Bastille Day and the French Revolution" (2004)
- Asta Maskaliunaite, "Social ideas of Louis Antoine Saint Just", Sociumas magazine (1998)
- Encyclopædia Britannica entry (subscription required for full entry)