A small piece of French history was dispersed at auction last weekend in Versailles: autographs from Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, a page of writing from Louis XVII, who died in the Temple, or even a letter from Robespierre addressed to Danton in February 1793, when the latter had just lost his wife, who had died giving birth to a stillborn child. An extremely rare document sold for 218,750 euros and acquired by a private collector, reports Le Parisien.
At the time, the two great beasts of the Revolution did not yet devour each other… They were allies and friends to defend the brand new republic, proclaimed in 1792 after the fall of Louis XVI. Danton mobilized the troops against the Prussian invaders – this is the famous victory of Valmy –, Robespierre harangues the Assembly and holds the club of the Jacobins. The duo allowed the Revolution to hold on at all costs, even if it meant quickly falling into Terror with the September massacres and the execution of Louis XVI in January 1793.
A few weeks later, Danton was struck in the heart with the death of his wife Gabrielle Charpentier, who died in childbirth on February 10, 1793. He was then in Belgium to organize the territories conquered after the recent victory over the Austrians at Jemmapes, and Robespierre takes up the pen to show him his support. “My dear Danton, if in the only misfortunes that can shake a soul such as yours, the certainty of having a tender and devoted friend can offer you some consolation, I present it to you. I love you more than ever and until death. In this moment I am yourself. And to conclude: “Do not close your heart to the strains of friendship that feel all your pain.” »
We know the rest… Today allies, tomorrow enemies, such is politics. Danton quickly remarries with a friend of his first wife in front of a refractory priest, he takes a step back from politics, leaves the Committee of Public Safety taken over by Robespierre and his followers… Fatal error, especially since the tribune takes the head of the Indulgents, demands the end of the Terror and the signing of peace with the enemy still present at the borders. His friends feel the threat more and more pressing and advise him to flee: “One does not take one’s homeland under the soles of one’s shoes”, he replies with panache.
He was arrested at the end of March 1794 on the orders of the man who boasted a year earlier of being “his friend” for life. In his eyes, the flamboyant former hero of the Revolution is no more than a “rotten idol” who must be condemned for conspiracy and corruption – “Me, sold? Men of my caliber are priceless, “he answers in his defense, in one of his shock formulas that made his legend. But the colossus can do nothing against a political trial tied up in advance. On April 5, he was guillotined at the age of 34 on Place Louis-XV – the future Place de la Concorde. On the way to the scaffold, he has time to say: “Robespierre, you follow me!” knowing that the Terror will eventually devour them all. Indeed, three months later, the Incorruptible will be guillotined.
