16 Vendémiaire
An CCXXXV
Jean-Sylvain Bailly
Jean-Sylvain Bailly – the man of the Tennis Court Oath and the Champ de Mars Massacre. On 20 June 1789, it was he who called on the representatives of the Third Estate to swear an oath to a new constitution. The National Assembly was thus founded, and the Revolution could no longer be stopped. But Bailly, who always acted in accordance with the law, could not remain in power for long. On 17 July 1791, when the citizens of Paris demonstrated in favour of a republic, he ordered the crowd to be fired upon. In strict accordance with the provisions of martial law. His fate was thereby sealed. Two years later, he began his journey to the guillotine amid the cheers of the people. The crowd unharnessed the horses and pulled him to the place of execution. But that was not enough: on the Champ de Mars, Bailly had to wait for death for many minutes, exposed to the crowd’s insults and the freezing rain. I am cold
were his last words.
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1736 - 1793
- September 15, 1736 · Jean-Sylvain Bailly is born in Paris into a family of artists.
- 1783 · In recognition of his astronomical, mathematical and literary achievements, he is admitted to the Académie française.
- May 1789 · Deputy of the Third Estate in the Estates-General.
- June 17, 1789 · Bailly becomes the first president of the National Assembly, which has broken away from the Estates-General.
- June 20, 1789 · He presides over the National Assembly’s session in the tennis court. There, the deputies swear not to disperse until a constitution for France has been adopted.
- July 15, 1789 · One day after the storming of the Bastille, Bailly is elected the first mayor of Paris.
- July 17, 1791 · After martial law is declared, the National Guard, commanded by Bailly, fires on republican demonstrators on the Champ de Mars. Around 50 people are killed.
- November 1791 · Bailly resigns as mayor and leaves Paris.
- July 1793 · He is arrested in Melun, in the department of Seine-et-Marne, and imprisoned.
- October 14, 1793 · Bailly testifies as a witness at Marie Antoinette’s trial and rejects accusations against her.
- November 11, 1793 · He is sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Tribunal as a
friend of the king and oppressor of the people’s liberty
. - November 12, 1793 · Execution on the Champ de Mars in Paris.
Quotes
It seems to me that the assembled nation cannot take orders.
Bailly on 23 June 1793, when the master of ceremonies called on the deputies to obey the king’s order to disperse.
Henry IV had won back his people, France has won back its king.
Bailly welcoming Louis XVI at Paris City Hall.
Yes, but only because of the cold.
Bailly’s reply when asked whether he is trembling, shortly before his execution.
Le Moniteur
The Tennis Court Oath, 20 June 1789.
Bailly in the centre, standing on the table.
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