Who was Robespierre and what was his demise?

Answer 1

Maximilien Robbespierre was a member of Parliament (the Estates-General, later the National Convention) at the beginning of the French Revolution. He became a prominent member of its so-called Jacobin faction.

Attacks from other countries and at the same time revolts within France (most notably in the Vendée, but also in other parts of France) caused the revolution to radicalize, leading to the so-called Reign of Terror (1793/94), led by the Committee of Public Safety. Officially an ordinary member of the Committee, Robbespierre quickly became its spokesman. During the Terror, thousands of people were dragged off to their deaths under the guillotine at the Committee's orders.

Robbespierre's threats that he had a long list of "traitors" to be dealt with likewise among his fellow politicians caused his downfall: Parliament had him indicted and after a brief show trial similar to the ones the Committee members had chaired themselves Robbespierre and his associates were guillotined in 1794.

Answer 2

He was the leader of the Committee of Public Safety and he was executed on the guillotine,