Interesting how Impasse Hanriot bears the name of a figure from the French Revolution. Franҫois Hanriot. A name that perhaps deserves more than just a quiet street.
Hanriot was born in 1759 near Paris. He wasn’t born into nobility. His parents were servants. They worked as gardeners for a former Treasurer of France.
Before the revolution, Hanriot drifted through jobs. He did secretarial work and tax work. But he lost positions quickly. Dishonesty and rioting cost him jobs.
When revolution sparked, Hanriot found his calling. He became known for his fiery anti-aristocratic views. He joined the attack on the Tuileries Palace in 1792. This event led to his election as commander. He commanded his section’s National Guard Battalion.
Hanriot rose to command the Paris National Guard in May 1793. He played a key role in the fall of the Girondins. These were a moderate revolutionary group. On June 2, 1793, Hanriot surrounded the National Convention. He used 80000 armed men and 160 cannons. He forced the arrest of 29 Girondin deputies.
His actions earned him the permanent command of the guard. He was a loyal supporter of Robespierre. Robespierre led the Reign of Terror. This was a brutal period of political repression.
Hanriot’s influence grew. He moved into an apartment in the Hôtel de Ville. He decorated it with busts of revolutionary figures. These included Brutus, Marat, and Rousseau.
But fortune is fickle. In July 1794, Robespierre’s enemies struck. They organized his overthrow. This became known as the Thermidorian Reaction. Hanriot was arrested along with Robespierre.
On July 27, Hanriot tried to rescue Robespierre. He mobilized National Guardsmen. But events turned against him. Hanriot was declared an outlaw by the Convention. Troops were sent to suppress him.
The end came swiftly. Hanriot was found unconscious in a courtyard. Some say he fell from a window. Others claim he was thrown by a fellow revolutionary.
On July 28, 1794, Hanriot was guillotined. He died alongside Robespierre. His execution marked the end of an era.
So as you walk along Impasse Hanriot remember Franҫois Hanriot’s story. He rose from obscurity to become a powerful figure. He played a pivotal role in the French Revolution. His life was a testament to the revolution’s turbulent nature. It showed how quickly fortunes could change in those times.