# Robespierre — Essays character guide

> Robespierre in Essays by Thomas Paine.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0011-dissertation-on-first-principles-of-government

## Who they are

French revolutionary leader, mentioned in passing.

## Relationships

### [Thomas Paine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_3_se/characters/thomas_paine)

_rivalry_

Robespierre and Paine clash over revolutionary tactics, with Paine opposing the Reign of Terror.

## In the story

### [Dissertation on First Principles of Government](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_3_se/chapters/dissertation-on-first-principles-of-government)

Used as an example to argue that no family has a superior right to hereditary rule; Paine equates Robespierre's claim with that of any hereditary monarch.

### [Editor’s Introduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_3_se/chapters/editor-s-introduction)

Mentioned as part of the Robespierrian party whose remnants joined Babeuf's conspiracy.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_3_se/chapters/endnotes)

Robespierre demanded separate discussion of the Declaration of Rights and objected to its omission of the Supreme Being and its extreme principles of freedom.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_3_se/characters/robespierre
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_3_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_3_se/characters