Leaders & Politicians · 18th Century
Maximilien Robespierre’s Last Words
“Merci.”— Maximilien Robespierre, July 28, 1794
Who Was Maximilien Robespierre?
Maximilien Robespierre was a French lawyer and revolutionary who led the radical Jacobins during the French Revolution. He orchestrated the Reign of Terror before being overthrown and guillotined.
The Final Moments
Robespierre was guillotined at the Place de la Révolution. Shot in the jaw the night before, he could barely speak. Someone offered him water; he said 'Merci.'
Are These Words Verified?
Contemporary French sources describe him thanking someone for water before execution, though his shattered jaw made speech difficult. The account appears in multiple near-contemporary records.
Sources
- newspaper Courier de l'Égalité, July 1794
- firsthand Memoirs of contemporaries present at Place de la Révolution
Legacy
Robespierre remains history's most ambiguous revolutionary — a champion of democracy who unleashed the Terror.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Maximilien Robespierre’s last words?
“Merci.”
How did Maximilien Robespierre die?
Maximilien Robespierre died on July 28, 1794 at the age of 36. Cause of death: Execution by guillotine.
Were Maximilien Robespierre’s last words documented?
Contemporary French sources describe him thanking someone for water before execution, though his shattered jaw made speech difficult. The account appears in multiple near-contemporary records.
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