Liberty: The Lives and Times of Six Women in Revolutionary France

by Moore, Lucy

  roi king

  salon drawing-room; or, more often here, the regular parties held in a drawing-room

  salonnière the hostess at a salon

  sans without

  sans-culottes lower-class Parisian radicals who, instead of aristocratic breeches or culottes, wore trousers, often striped red and white

  Septembrist someone implicated in the September massacres of 1792

  sections from May 1790, the 48 wards of Paris, each with its own popularly elected government

  tendresse tenderness

  toilette outfit; the process of getting dressed

  tous/toute all

  tribune visitors’ gallery at the manège or convention hall; or the speakers’ rostrum

  tricoteuse literally, knitter; women making socks for their husbands and sons fighting in the revolutionary army were the most regular (and savagely vociferous) observers of the guillotine

  tutoyer (noun, tutoiement) to address someone using the informal second-person-singular tu rather than the politer second-person-plural vous

  tyran tyrant

  vainqueur victor; applied as an honorary epithet to those men who sacked the Bastille on 14 July 1789

  valet de chambre gentleman’s gentleman

  vaillant/e brave

  veuve widow

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  This book has been wonderful to write, firstly because the subject matter was so enthralling, secondly because it involved frequent visits to Paris where I tortured librarians at countless bibliothèques with my appalling French, and finally because everyone who helped me with it was so delightful and so enthusiastic. Many, many thanks to: the staff of the British and London Libraries in London and the Archives Nationales and the Richelieu, Mitterand and Arsenal Libraries in Paris; Elisabeth, princesse de Chimay, for taking the time to dicuss Thérésia with me; Sybille de Rosée, for putting me in touch with the princesse and having me to stay for such a lovely evening; Anne Colette, for being so patient with my French over countless breakfasts; everyone at the Milk Studios for making me feel so welcome; Sophie Richard; Andrew Stock; my sisters, Corina and Sophie, who made my stay in Paris so much fun; the wonderful Tif Loehnis, Eric Simonoff, Rebecca Folland, Christelle Chamouton, Mollie Stirling and everyone at Janklow & Nesbit; and the fantastic team at Harper Collins, including Arabella Pike, Terry Karten, Annabel Wright, Vera Brice, Alice Massey, Helen Ellis, Caroline Hotblack, Leslie Robinson and John Bond, as well as Sue Phillpott for her immaculate copy editing (the mistakes which remain are all my own) and Douglas Matthews for the index. Thank you for putting so much into this project and giving me such warm encouragement. I’m really looking forward to working on the next one with you. Finally I’d like to thank my husband, Justin, who nobly commuted to Paris while I was staying there and to whom this book is dedicated. We’ll always have Louis…

  SEARCHABLE TERMS

  Note: Entries in this index, carried over verbatim from the print edition of this title, are unlikely to correspond to the pagination of any given e-book reader. However, entries in this index, and other terms, may be easily located by using the search feature of your e-book reader.

  Abbaye (prison), Saint-Germain: massacres, 142–3; Manon Roland in, 209–13

  Abrantes, Laure Junot, duchesse d’, 12, 271

  actors and actresses: prejudice against, 57–8

  Acts of the Apostles (newspaper), 123

  Adams, Abigail, 97

  Adams, John, 97

  Adélaïde, Mme (Louis XV’s daughter), 14–15, 79

  Alexandre (secretary), 272, 278 Amar, André, 237–8

  America see United States of America American War of Independence, 20, 97

  Ami des Citoyens, L’ (newspaper), 150, 163, 319

  Ami du Peuple, L’ (newspaper), 98, 102, 173

  Ami du Peuple par Leclercl, L’ (newspaper), 201

  Ami du Roi, L’ (newspaper), 43

  Amis des Lois, 354

  ancien régime: and power of women, 56, 218; manners and style changed by revolution, 152

  ‘Anglomaniacs’, 22, 77

  anticlericalism, 30, 78, 229, 258, 290

  aristocrats: leave France, 78–9

  Artois, Charles, comte d’, 4, 6

  Audu, ‘Queen’, 119, 132, 203

  Aulard, Alphonse, 60, 217

  Austria: Théroigne interrogated in, 52, 112–15; French consider war against, 117–18, 123; France declares war on (April 1792), 123–4; army advances into France, 228

  Bailly, Jean-Sylvain, 35

  Ballanche, Pierre-Simon, 386

  balls: public, 317–18, 366

  Bancal, Henri, 100–1

  Barbaroux, Charles, 211, 252

  Barére, Bertrand, 77, 127, 161, 183, 195, 210, 228, 230–1, 320

  Barnave, Antoine, 55, 100

  Barras, Paul, vicomte de: criticizes Manon Roland, 158; on Marat’s dislike of violence, 193; on Robespierre’s repressions, 296–7; and plot against Robespierre, 298; suspected by Jacobins, 308; at La Chaumière, 313; silver harness, 316; on Thérésia Cabarrus, 319, 346; on Tallien, 324; as Director of Council of Elders, 325; qualities and character, 325; excuses behaviour under Terror, 334; given emergency command of army, 335; ascendancy, 336–7; disparages Joséphine, 338; takes Thérésia Cabarrus as mistress, 338–9; witnesses Napoléon-Joséphine wedding, 338; Joséphine’s fondness for, 340; dress, 342; pride in title, 343; appoints Talleyrand Minister for Foreign Affairs, 344; on women’s role, 344–5; military action in Paris, 348; and Fructidor coup, 349; and Thérésia’s affair with Ouvrard, 354; card-playing, 367; alliance with Talleyrand and Siéyes, 368; ousted in Brumaire coup, 369; portrayed in Zoloé, 374

  Basire, Claude, 202, 238

  Bastille: stormed (1789), 5–6, 32; fall celebrated, 72–5

  Baudelaire, Charles, 47

  Beauharnais, Eugéne de, 294

  Beauharnais, Hortense de, 294, 351, 364

  Bedford, Lord (?Lord John Russell, later 6th Duke of Bedford), 202–3, 225

  Béranger, Pierre Jean de, 257

  Bercy, marquis de, 81

  Bernadotte, General Jean (later King of Sweden), 380

  Bernard, Jean, 182–3

  Bernard, Marie, 182–4

  Berry, Mary, 17, 70, 78, 106

  Berthaut, Louis, 364

  Berthier, General Louis Alexandre, 376

  Bertrand (coiffeur), 315

  Bessborough, Henrietta Frances, Countess of (née Spencer), 339, 341, 365, 377

  Beugnot, Jacques-Claude, 212–13, 249, 250, 292

  Bidos, William, 264

  Billaud-Varenne, Jacques-Nicolas, 320

  Blanc, François de, 114–16

  Boigne, Adéle, comtesse de, 9, 359–60

  Bonaparte, Jérôme (Napoléon’s brother), 339

  Bonaparte, Joseph (Napoléon’s brother), 376, 390

  Bonaparte, Lucien (Napoléon’s brother), 361–2, 368–9, 376

  Bonstetten, Charles-Victor de, 382 Bordeaux: Thérésia Cabarrus in, 263–4, 270, 273, 278–9, 285, 375–6; Convention représentants (Tallien and Ysabeau) in, 264–5, 268–70, 273–5; famine in, 273–4; executions in, 275; Jullien in, 282, 285; Hospice de Sainte-Croix, 285

  Bordereau, Renée, 227

  Bosc d’Antic, Augustin, 54, 85–7, 170, 215, 219, 246, 255

  Bouchard, Mme (prison keeper’s wife), 221

  Bourienne, Louis-Antoine, 368

  bread riots see food shortages

  Brissot, Jacques-Pierre: and Manon Roland, xxi, 87–8, 98, 101, 108; Théroigne and, 52; publishes Patriote Français, 58; membership of clubs, 62; admires USA, 97; as deputy to Assembly, 107; differences with Robespierre, 117, 123, 126; favours war with Austria, 117, 123; belief in equality, 137; Robespierre accuses of conspiring with Brunswick, 148; elected to National Convention, 149; warrant for arrest, 159; on Danton’s attitude to September massacres, 160; Pauline Léon vows enmity to, 191; arrested, 211; Manon Roland writes for, 219; awaits execution, 247; Travels in the United States, 87


  Brissotin group see Girondins

  Britain (England): French admiration for, 22; influence on Mme de Staël’s circle, 22, 77; French émigrés in, 153; war with France (1793), 171; captures Toulon, 228; French recapture Toulon from, 270; visitors in France, 377

  Brookner, Anita, 365

  Bruce, Evangeline, 77

  Bruix, Admiral Eustache, 369

  Brumaire coup (1799), 368–9

  Brune, General Guillaume, 270

  Brunswick, Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand, Duke of, 131, 147

  Buffon, Georges-Louis Leclerc, comte de, 12, 16, 68

  Burke, Edmund, 40

  Burney, Fanny (Mme d’Arblay): on Narbonne and Mme de Staël, 14–15; on French émigrés at Juniper Hall, Surrey, 153

  Buzot, François: as deputy in Estates-General, 23; in National Assembly, 88; Rolands meet, 88, 104; Manon Roland corresponds with, 103; Manon Roland respects, 104, 160–1; elected to National Convention, 149; Tallien attacks, 151; commitment to Girondins, 162; proposes inviting Roland to stay in office, 163; defends Roland, 170; Manon Roland’s love for, 170, 174, 214, 216, 220–1, 251, 256, 267; denounces militant women, 193–4; flees to Caen, 194, 196, 211–12, 222; outlawed, 244; learns of Manon Roland’s death, 252; suicide, 252

  ‘Ça Ira’ (revolutionary anthem), 77–8, 100, 121

  Cabarrus, Domingo (Thérésia’s brother), 263

  Cabarrus, Dominique (Thérésia’s uncle), 263

  Cabarrus, Francisco (Thérésia’s brother), 263

  Cabarrus, François (Thérésia’s father) 67, 277

  Cabarrus, Galabert (Thérésia’s uncle), 263

  Cabarrus, Thérésia (later de Fontenay, then Tallien, then Chimay): social status, xxiii, 56, 67; in Fraternal Society of Patriots of Both Sexes, 61–2; marriage, 67–9; effect of revolution on, 68–9; appearance and dress, 69; political activities, 70–2, 80, 83, 319; attends salons, 76; social life, 78, 312–13, 318–19; liaison with Félix Lepeletier, 80, 266; reputed licentiousness and promiscuity, 80–1, 339–41; relations with Tallien, 81–2, 118, 265–8, 270, 276–8, 287, 307–8; embroiders life-story, 82 & n; education, 92; divorce, 150–1, 167, 263; flees to south, 167; in Bordeaux, 263–5, 270, 279; love for Lamothe, 263–4; 263–4; imprisoned and released, 269; saves lives in Bordeaux, 273, 275–6, 278, 285; donates money to National Convention, 275; confides in Mme Lage de Volude, 276–8; discourse on women, 285–6; leaves Bordeaux for Orléans and Paris, 286–7; imprisoned in La Force, 289–92, 294; meets Tallien at Fontenay, 289; on Robespierre’s downfall, 297; released after death of Robespierre, 301, 305; celebrity and influence, 305–6, 308, 314, 319, 323–4, 341; friendship with Rose de Beauharnais ( Joséphine), 307, 314, 340, 363; closes Jacobin Club, 309; marriage to Tallien, 310–12, 323–4, 347–8; daughter born, 314; regrets killing of royalists, 323; captivates Napoléon, 325–6; Mme de Staël visits at La Chaumière, 333; as Barras’s mistress, 338–9; press and public turn against, 340–1, 346; introduces Talleyrand to Directory society, 344; femininity, 345–6; pregnancy and stillborn child by Barras, 347–8, 352; affair and children with Ouvrard, 354, 367–8, 372; letters to Tallien from prison, 357; relations with Juliette Récamier, 358–9; and Barras’s ousting in Brumaire coup, 369; Joséphine banned from seeing, 372; portrayed in Zoloé, 374; rebuked by Napoléon at masked ball, 374; divorce from Tallien, 377; entertaining, 377–8; marries Camaran-Chimay, 379–80, 385; influence, 385; retirement and death, 385; rejects Napoléon, 389; Discours sur l’Éducation, 271, 274

  Caen: anti-Robespierre and Commune movement in, 194, 196–7, 212

  calendar (revolutionary), 149

  Calonne, Alexandre de, 182

  Cambacérès, Régis de, 370

  Carmes, Les (prison), 294, 301

  Chabot, Citoyen, 231–3

  Chalier, Citoyen (deputy), 238

  Chalier, Joseph, 228

  Champagneux, Luc-Antoine de, 215, 219, 255

  Champs de Mars, Paris, 73; massacre (July 1791), 101–2

  Charles IV, King of Spain, 276–7

  Charles, Hippolyte, 358

  Chastenay, Victorine de, 19, 349, 353

  Chateaubriand, François-René de, vicomte, 378, 382, 386

  Châteauvieux regiment and festival, 120, 149

  Chaumette, Pierre-Gaspard, 239, 257–8, 281

  Chaumière, La (cottage), 311–13, 318–19, 323, 333, 347–8, 353–4, 379

  Chénier, André, 121, 313

  Chénier, Marie-Joseph, 58, 120–1, 313

  Chimay, Joseph de Caraman-Chimay, prince de, 287, 379–80

  Chimay, Joseph (Thérésia-Chimay’s son), 386

  Chimay, Thérésia, princesse de see Cabarrus, Thérésia

  Chronique de manége, 122

  Chronique scandaleuse, 80

  Church, the: excommunicates actors and actresses, 57; Manon Roland rejects, 93; and freedom of worship, 258; Robespierre’s attitude to, 290; tolerated under Thermidorians, 322 citizenship: for women, 57, 61, 104; under 1795 constitution, 324

  Civil Code (Napoléon’s), 379

  Clairon, Claire Joséphe Hippolyte de Latude, 16, 59

  Clermont-Tonnerre, Stanislas de, 16, 23–4, 137

  Clichy, château de, 358, 362, 364

  Club of the Rights of Man, 71

  Cobb, Richard, 185, 226, 264, 289, 347

  cockades see tricolour cockade

  Coicy, Mme de, 12

  Coigny, Aimée de, 20, 313, 372–3

  Colbert, Édouard de, 263

  Collot d’Herbois, Jean-Marie, 120, 265, 280, 289, 298, 320

  Colombe, Anne, 102, 173, 190

  Committee of Public Safety: Girondins’ proposals to, 174; Marat serves on, 199, 228, 296; spies report to, 226; and war with Austria, 228; opposes enragés, 229; questions Rose Lacombe on Société des Républicaines-Révolutionnaires, 230, 233; Rose Lacombe attacks, 231; and effect of executions, 247; Ysabeau and Tallien’s life in Bordeaux reported to, 274; justifies policy of terror, 280; rebels in, 296; and wearing of cockades and red bonnets, 237

  Commune (Paris): formed, 131; Surveillance Committee, 140, 159; Manon Roland dislikes, 161; proposes taxes and arrests, 174; and arrest of Girondins, 176; elections to, 190; defends Robespierre, 298; dismantled, 309

  Conciergerie (fortress-prison), Paris, 248, 250, 293

  Condorcet, M.J.A.N. de Caritat, marquis de: in Mme de Staël’s circle, 21–2; on citizenship for women, 61, 389; membership of clubs, 62; and Thérésia Cabarrus, 80; and Manon Roland, 88, 127; collaborates on The Republican, 99; Tallien denounces, 124; attends Mme Dodun’s salon, 158; on Robespierre, 164–5; as co-author of new constitution, 195; suicide, 247

  Condorcet, Sophie, marquise de (née de Grouchy), 21, 106, 122, 124, 376

  Confederation of the Friends of Truth, 61

  Constant, Benjamin: on Mme de Staël, xx, 331; relations with Mme de Staël, 331–3, 342; in Paris, 333, 367; arrested, 336; informs Talleyrand of appointment, 344; Barras dines with, 348; and Fructidor coup, 349; on Mme de Staël and Juliette Récamier, 364; appointed tribune under Napoléon, 370–1; attempts to leave Mme de Staël, 371; Napoléon expels from Tribunate, 377; on tyranny of public opinion, 378; friendship with Juliette Récamier, 382, 386; Cécile, 331

  Constant, Charles, 357–8

  Corday, Charlotte, 196–9, 250, 254–5

  Cordeliers’ Club, 41, 60, 71, 102

  Council of the Elders, 325, 335, 369

  Council of Five Hundred, 325, 335, 369

  Couton, Georges, 299

  Danton, Georges: membership of clubs, 62; celebrates Tennis Court Oath, 72; and threat to Paris, 131; influence and popularity, 140–1; as Minister of Justice, 140–1, 157; in National Convention, 149; Manon Roland’s hostility to, 157–9, 216, 218; recalls Commune’s arrest warrants for Girondins, 159; and September massacres, 159–60; campaign against Roland, 163; Olympe de Gouges admires, 166; informed of Rolands’ marriage difficulties, 170; and warrant for Roland’s arrest, 174; dismisses Grandpré, 210; Manon Roland describes in memoirs, 216; Robespierre has e
xecuted, 281

  David, Jacques-Louis: friendship with Talma, 58; and delegation to commemorate Châteauvieux soldiers, 120; paints Michel Lepeletier, 167; portrays death of Marat, 199; designs anniversary celebrations (1793), 204; designs new seal for Republic, 259; designs for Festival of Supreme Being, 291; imprisoned, 312; devises fêtes, 313; portrait of Juliette Récamier, 365–6; The Lictor Bringing Back to Brutus the Bodies of his Sons (painting), 75

  Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, 25, 39, 53, 72, 104, 388

  Delphin (Récamier’s brother-in-law), 181, 183, 185

  Desmoulins, Camille: urges rebellion against Louis XVI, 5–6; in storming of Bastille, 37; Théroigne supports, 49 & n, 52; marriage to Lucile Duplessis, 50; on Théroigne’s appearance, 60; Thérésia Cabarrus entertains, 72; celebrates fall of Bastille, 73; on Jacobin Club, 88; Pauline Léon reads newspaper, 102; on commemoration of Châteauvieux regiment rebellion, 121; and threat to Paris, 131; in National Convention, 149; told of Rolands’ marriage difficulties, 170; on Marat, 173; on condemnation of Girondists, 247; on appeal of executions, 253; first published, 257; publishes Vieux Cordelier, 280; executed, 281–2

  Desmoulins, Lucile, 50, 282

  Devonshire, Georgiana, Duchess of, 377, 380

  Diderot, Denis: on informality of manners, 10; ideas, 11; Mme de Staël meets, 16; satirizes Louis XV, 56

  Dillon, Arthur, 282

  Directory: proposed, 335–6; begins, 337; corruption and inefficiency, 341–2; constitutional monarchists in, 343; rule under Barras, 349; derided as failure, 367; ends, 369

  Dodun, Mme, 107, 158 dress and fashion: under ancien régime, 59; of muscadins, 305–6; post-Terror, 314–16, 345; see also Théroigne de Méricourt, Anne-Joséphe

  Drôme, Rosalie Jullien de see Jullien, Rosalie

  du Barry, Jeanne Bécu, comtesse, 214, 253–4, 346

  Dubois, Élisabeth (Mme Pierre Favre), 295

  Dubouy, Femme (la Mére Duchesne), 190

  Duchastellet, Achille (formerly marquis), 100

  Ducos, Roger, 369

  Dufourny, Louis-Pierre, 194

  Dufriche-Valazé, Charles Eléonor, 247

  Dumouriez, General François, 108, 160, 164, 171

  Duplessis, Lucile see Desmoulins, Lucile

  Dyzez, Jean, 298

  Écherolles, Alexandrine des, 227–8

  Egypt: Napoléon’s expedition to, 352–3, 366, 368