Journalist and member of the Convention Jean Paul Marat became one of the most famous and charismatic figures of the French Revolution. His newspaper "Friend of the People" was the most important publication of its era. Marat, no doubt, was the master of minds and made many opponents for himself. A turbulent era swallowed up a well-known publicist - he was stabbed to death by a fanatical supporter of the enemy party.
Doctor Career
The future revolutionary Jean Paul Marat was born on May 24, 1743 in the Swiss town of Boudry. His father was a famous doctor, which determined the boy's future career. Jean Paul was left without parents quite early, and from his youth he had to lead a completely independent life. He constantly changed his place of residence and way of earning.
For ten years Jean Paul Marat was torn between Holland and England. He was a practicing physician and publicist. In 1775, the specialist became a doctor of medicine at the University of Edinburgh. In addition, for eight years Marat worked as a doctor at the court of the Count d'Artois - the future King of France Charles X.
Beginning of journalistic activity
By the age of 30, the writer became quite famous in the philosophical field and was already openly arguing withVoltaire. He published not only scientific works on physiology and medicine, but also became interested in social topics. In 1774, from the pen of Marat, Chains of Slavery appeared - one of the loudest and most popular pamphlets of its time. The writer corresponded to the spirit of the time - in Western Europe, and especially in France, anti-monarchist sentiments were growing. Against this background, the publicist, with his loud proclamations, time after time fell into the sore nerve of society and gradually became more and more famous.
Jean Paul Marat has established himself as a principled critic of absolutism. He considered bone European regimes despotic and hindering the development of society. Marat not only scolded monarchies, he examined in detail the historical evolution of absolutism and its forms. In Chains of Slavery, he proposed a new construction of a society with equal economic and political rights as an alternative to the outdated regime. His idea of egalitarianism was the opposite of the then widespread elitism.
Critic of the old order
In his views, Jean Paul Marat was recognized by many as a loyal supporter of Rousseau. At the same time, the student managed to develop some of the ideas of his teacher. A prominent place in the work of the thinker was occupied by the study of the struggle between the old feudal nobility and the bourgeoisie, which was a supporter of liberal ideas. Noting the importance of this rivalry, Marat emphasized that the antagonism between the rich and the poor posed a more serious danger to the tranquility of Europe. It is in social inequalitythe writer saw the reasons for the growing crisis.
Marat was generally a consistent defender of the interests of the poor, the peasantry and workers. It is for this reason that his figure has become such a cult figure among parties on the left. Many years later, this revolutionary would be ex alted in the USSR - streets would be named after him, and his biography would become the subject of many monographs.
Friend of the People
In 1789, when the revolution broke out in France, Marat took up the publication of his own newspaper, The Friend of the People. The publicist was already popular before, and in the restless days of civic activity he became a figure of truly enormous proportions. Marat himself began to be called "friend of the people." In his newspaper, he criticized any authorities for their missteps and crimes. The publication was constantly under state pressure. But whenever it came to court, Marat (the only editor) managed to get away with it. His newspaper was wildly popular among the workers and petty bourgeoisie of Paris.
From the publication equally got both the monarchy with the royal family, and all kinds of ministers with members of the National Assembly. "Friend of the People" became one of the most important reasons for the wide spread of radical revolutionary sentiments in the French capital. The newspaper was so popular that even fake publications appeared that tried to defame it or take advantage of its public.
Emigration and homecoming
Severy month of active journalistic activity, Jean-Paul Marat acquired an increasing number of ill-wishers. The short biography of this revolutionary is an example of a person constantly hiding and hiding. He avoided not only representatives of the authorities, but also various fanatics who attempted on his life. At the height of the revolution, towards the end of 1791, Marat even emigrated to England.
However, in London, the journalist was uncomfortable - he was used to being in the thick of things. After a short absence, the popular publicist returned to Paris. It was April 1792. The unrest continued, but after several years of civil unrest, change failed to improve the situation of the disaffected sections of the population.
Evolution of views
Many participants in the French Revolution constantly changed their views. Jean Paul Marat was no exception. A brief description of the evolution of his beliefs is as follows. At the first stage of the revolution, Marat advocated the preservation of the monarchy in a limited form and the dispersal of the National Assembly. In addition, he was contemptuous of the idea of a republican system. In July 1791, the king tried to escape, another unrest began, and one of the demonstrations was even shot. After this episode, the editor of the "Friend of the People" joined the supporters of the overthrow of the Bourbons.
When Louis was arrested for another attempt to flee the country, Marat resisted the desire of the masses to deal with the monarch without trial. The ruler of minds tried to defend the idea of the need to comply with alllegal formalities in assessing the king's guilt. Marat was able to influence the Convention and force him to put the question of punishment to a roll call vote. 387 out of 721 deputies supported the execution of Louis.
Fight against the Girondins
From its inception, the Convention needed such bright speakers as Jean Paul Marat. There were no photos at that time, but only paintings and newspaper clippings clearly demonstrate how he knew how to capture the attention of the public. The politician's charisma was also demonstrated by another case. Among all the revolutionary parties, Marat chose and supported the Montagnards, from whom he was elected to the Convention. Their opponents the Girondins subjected the journalist to everyday criticism.
Marat's enemies even managed to put him on trial for saying that the Convention had become the abode of the counter-revolution. However, the deputy was able to use the public process as a tribune and proved his own innocence. The Girondins believed that the star of Marat was about to finally set. However, in April 1793, after winning the trial, he, on the contrary, returned in triumph to the Convention. Unsinkable and ubiquitous for his contemporaries was Jean Paul Marat. In short, if not for his untimely death, his fate would have been completely different.
Leader of the Jacobins
In June 1793, at the request of angry Parisians, the deputies of the Convention expelled the Girondins from it. Power for some time passed to the Jacobins, or rather, to their three leaders - Danton, Marat and Robespierre. They led a political club thatdistinguished by his radical commitment to breaking the old feudal and monarchical system.
The Jacobins were supporters of terror, which they considered a necessary means to achieve their political goals. In Paris they were also known as the Society of the Friends of the Constitution. At the peak of its popularity, the Jacobin current included up to 500,000 supporters throughout France. Marat was not the founder of this movement, however, having joined it, he quickly became one of its leaders.
Murder
After the triumphant victory over the Girondins, Marat became very weak in he alth. He was struck by a severe skin disease. Medicines did not help, and in order to somehow ease his suffering, the journalist constantly took baths. In this position, he not only wrote, but even received visitors.
It was under such circumstances that on July 13, 1793, Charlotte Corday came to Marat. Unfortunately for her victim, she was a fierce supporter of the Girondins. The woman stabbed the weakened and helpless revolutionary. The bath where Jean Paul Marat was killed was depicted in his famous painting by Jacques Louis David (his painting “The Death of Marat” became one of the most famous works of art dedicated to that turbulent era). First, the journalist's body was buried in the Pantheon. After another change of power in 1795, it was transferred to an ordinary cemetery. One way or another, the assassination of Jean Paul Marat was one of the most notorious in the entire French Revolution.
