enragés

enragés (äNräzhā') [key], term applied to a small group of Parisian radical extremists in the French Revolution. Rising prices and food shortages provoked them in Feb.–Mar., 1793, to pillage the city's food stores. Led by Jacques Roux, they demanded strict economic controls and successfully agitated for the overthrow of the Girondists. To maintain popular support in a time of crisis, the government granted many of their demands in the early months of the Reign of Terror, but arrested them. After Roux's arrest (Aug., 1793) Jacques René Hébert supported them.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

• • Cite
  • Print
  • Email
  • Bookmark
    • Add bookmark
    • Add to del.icio.us
    • Digg It!
    • Add to Reddit