Chaumette

Chaumette em http://portrait.kaar.at

He demanded the formation of a Revolutionary Army, and repeatedly demanded the extermination of all traitors to the Revolution. He was widely known to be strongly opposed to women actively participating in politics. He was radically involved in the attempt to de-Christianize France during the Revolution. He attempted to eradicate outward signs of religion, to close churches, and to prohibit public worship.(4) Chaumette was convinced that Christianity and counterrevolution were one and the same.(2) He promoted the worship of Reason,and was even involved in the organization of the Festival of Reason, and on 10 November 1793, presented the "goddess" to the Convention in the guise of an actress. On 23 November, Chaumette obtained a decree closing all the churches of Paris, and placing the priests under strict surveillance; however, two days later he obtained from the Commune the free exercise of worship. Chaumette was so passionately involved in the de-Christianization process that he even publicly changed his name from Pierre-Gaspard Chaumette to Anaxagoras Chaumette. He stated his reason for changing his name that, “I was formerly called Pierre-Gaspard Chaumette because my god-father believed in the saints. Since the revolution I have taken the name of a saint who was hanged for his republican principles.

He wished to save the Hébertists through a new insurrection, and fought against Maximilien Robespierre (who, as a promoter of the Cult of the Supreme Being, had provoked the fall of Hébertists). His revolutionary decree promulgated by the Commune on his demand was overthrown by the Convention. Robespierre had him accused with the Hébertists; Chaumette was arrested, imprisoned in the Luxembourg Palace, sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Tribunal, and guillotined.