Montagnards

Montagnards ( fr. Montagnards - people on top, highlanders) - a political party, formed during the French Revolution . From the opening of the Legislative Assembly on October 1, 1791, the Montagnards occupied the upper ranks of the left side, from where the name of their party came - “peak”, “mountain” ( French La Montagne ).

Subsequently, in the Convention, this party consisted of Parisian deputies elected under the influence of the events of 10 August ; her leader was Danton ; adjacent to it Marat , Collot d'Herbois , Billot-Varennes , Merlin from Douai , Bazir , Chabot . In the Convention, the Montagnards were very powerful, despite their small numbers.

Less educated than the Girondins , the Montagnards were bolder, more resolute, with more organizational skills. They sought support in the crowd and gained dominance in the Paris club of the Jacobins , removing the Girondins from it. In the struggle of the Girondins and Montagnards, the latter prevailed: the Girondists were exposed in the eyes of the people as federalists, and the Montagnards proposed a decree on the inseparability and unity of the republic.

After a decisive victory over the Girondins ( June 2, 1793 ), the Montagnards promulgated a constitution that was never enforced.

The Committee for Public Safety , created on April 6, included - after the fall of the Girondins - extreme Montagnards. The Montagnards restored against Robespierre by the execution of Danton contributed to the coup of Thermidor 9 , but soon the reaction turned against them; the last blow was dealt to them by the failed movement of 1 prerial . During the Second Republic of 1848-1851 the same name was adopted by the faction of radical Republicans in the National Assembly, led by Ledru-Rollin .