18 Ventôse
An CCXXXIV
Committee of General Security
The Committee of General Security was a powerful organ of the Reign of Terror. Composed of twelve members – including Amar, Vadier and Voulland – it controlled the police and the judicial system. It decided daily over liberty, imprisonment, or death. In contrast, Robespierre’s Committee of Public Safety claimed political leadership of the Republic. Two committees, two competing claims to power. In April 1794, the conflict erupted openly. When the Committee of Public Safety established its own police bureau, this amounted to a direct attack on the prerogatives of the Committee of General Security. Amar and Vadier responded with open hostility. The Committee of General Security ultimately played a central role in the downfall of Robespierre. Thereafter, the Committee of Public Safety lost much of its authority, while the Committee of General Security retained its power until the dissolution of the National Convention.
JK
1792 - 1795
- October 2, 1792 · The National Convention decides to establish a committee responsible for supervising the internal security of the state: Committee of General Security.
- April 6, 1793 · The Convention establishes a new committee vested with extensive powers: Committee of Public Safety. Its responsibilities partly overlap with those of the Committee of General Security.
- September 1793 · The Committee of General Security now consists of 12 members, including Amar, Vadier, Voulland, Dubarran, Lebas and David. Its composition remains unchanged until the fall of Robespierre.
- November 1793 · The Committee distributes its internal responsibilities. Three members are assigned to each of four regions (Paris, North/Northeast, Southeast, West/Centre).
- December 4, 1793 · The National Convention entrusts the Committee of General Security with the supervision of the revolutionary committees.
- April 1794 · After the Committee of Public Safety establishes its own police bureau to oversee the administration, conflicts arise between the two committees.
- June 10, 1794 · Couthon pushes through a new law on the Revolutionary Tribunal in the Convention, initiating the Great Terror (Law of 22 Prairial) without prior consultation of the Committee of General Security. Tensions between the two bodies intensify once again.
- June 15, 1794 · Vadier delivers, in the name of the Committee of General Security, a report on the Théot affair, indirectly targeting Robespierre.
- July 22, 1794 · The two committees meet for the last time and agree on pragmatic compromises, which nevertheless fail to dispel their mutual distrust.
- July 27, 1794 · The members of the Committee of General Security (with the exception of Lebas and David) actively take part in the overthrow of Robespierre. The following morning, Dubarran enforces the immediate execution of the “conspirators” without trial.
- August 24, 1794 · The Convention distributes executive powers among 16 committees while reaffirming the authority of the Committee of General Security. The latter retains its political influence until the end of its mandate.
- October 26, 1795 · Final session of the National Convention. The Committee of General Security is dissolved as well.
Quotes
We must stir up a great deal of red.
David, 1793.
A horde of rogues protected by Amar and Jagot.
Robespierre in his last speech before the Convention concerning the agents of the Committee of General Security, 26 July 1794.
The Revolutionary Tribunal shall without delay execute the decree issued yesterday against the deputies declared traitors to the fatherland and placed outside the protection of the law.
Dubarran, 28 July 1794, 9 a.m.
Le Moniteur
Octidi, 8 Nivôse, l'an 2 de la République Française, une et indivisible
(December 28, 1793)
The Committee of General Security met in the Hôtel de Brionne, near the Tuileries.
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