How a bathtub assassin sparked myths about life after beheading | ASSASSINS

Key Concepts

• French Revolution: A period of radical social and political upheaval in France from 1789 to 1799, leading to the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic.
• Estates General: A representative assembly of the three "estates" or orders of French society: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners.
• National Assembly: Formed by the Third Estate (commoners) in 1789, it declared itself a legislative body and demanded a French constitution.
• Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen: A fundamental document of the French Revolution, proclaiming that all men are born free and equal in rights.
• Jacobins: A radical political faction during the French Revolution, advocating for centralized power and control.
• Girondins: A more moderate political faction during the French Revolution, favoring decentralized power.
• Committee of Public Safety: A powerful committee established during the Reign of Terror, tasked with rooting out and punishing counter-revolutionaries.
• Reign of Terror: A period of extreme violence and mass executions during the French Revolution, characterized by the systematic repression of perceived enemies of the revolution.
• Guillotine: A device used for beheading, famously employed during the French Revolution for executions.
• Social Contract: A philosophical concept that individuals implicitly agree to surrender some of their freedoms and submit to the authority of a ruler or government in exchange for protection of their remaining rights.

The Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat

This video recounts the assassination of Jean-Paul Marat, a prominent figure of the French Revolution, by Charlotte Corday on July 13, 1793. The narrative delves into the historical context of the French Revolution, the political factions involved, and the motivations behind the assassination.

Background of the French Revolution

• Origins: The revolution began in May 1789 with a meeting of the Estates General at the Palace of Versailles. France was facing a severe financial crisis due to extravagant spending by the royal court and costly military campaigns.
• Taxation Inequality: A significant contributing factor was the unfair tax system, where the clergy and nobility were largely exempt, leaving the burden on the commoners (the Third Estate).
• Key Events:
  • June 1789: The Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly, demanding a French constitution.
  • July 14, 1789: The storming of the Bastille, a royal prison, marked the beginning of the French Revolution.
  • August 1789: The National Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, asserting that power belongs to the people.
  • October 1789: Crowds, primarily women, marched to Versailles, demanding bread and forcing King Louis XVI to move his court to Paris.
  • Later Years: The monarchy was abolished, and both Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were executed by guillotine.

Factionalism within the Revolution

• Splintering Groups: As the revolution progressed, internal divisions grew among the revolutionaries.
• Jacobins (Extremists): Advocated for a strong, centralized government and were often ruthless in pursuing their agenda.
• Girondins (Moderates): Favored a more decentralized approach to power and were wary of excessive bloodshed, with some even opposing the king's execution.
• Escalating Violence: The ideological differences between these factions led to increasing conflict and mass killings, contributing to the Reign of Terror.

Jean-Paul Marat: The "Friend of the People"

• Early Life and Career: Born in Switzerland, Marat studied medicine and practiced informally in London. He later moved to Paris and served as a physician to the Compte d'Artois, Louis XVI's brother, for six years.
• Political Transformation: The events of 1789 inspired Marat to dedicate himself to the ideals of equality and freedom. He became a fervent revolutionary, deeply disappointed by the nobility's resistance to change.
• Radical Journalism: Marat rose to prominence as the editor of the newspaper L'Ami du Peuple (The Friend of the People). His writing style was aggressive and populist, often inciting revolutionary fervor.
  • Quote: "A year ago, by cutting off five or 600 heads, you would have set yourselves free and happy forever. Today, it would need 10,000. Within a few months, perhaps you would need to cut off a 100,000."
• Role in the Committee of Public Safety: Marat became a powerful member of the extremist faction and joined the Committee of Public Safety, which was tasked with identifying and punishing moderate revolutionaries. He viewed the moderates as dangerous and subversive.
• Health Condition: Marat suffered from a severe skin condition, characterized by oozing, itching, and burning blisters, which led him to spend much of his time in medicinal baths for relief.

Charlotte Corday: The Assassin

• Background: Charlotte Corday, a 25-year-old woman from Caen, was educated in the works of Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire and Rousseau. She was a supporter of the revolution but was wary of its escalating violence.
• Motivations: Corday believed that figures like Marat were responsible for the increasing horror of the revolution and that they needed to be stopped. She was influenced by the idea of the social contract and sought to create a society based on reason and tolerance.
• Assassination Plan:
  • Corday traveled nearly 300 km to Paris with the intention of assassinating Marat.
  • She initially planned to kill him at the National Convention but was thwarted by his reclusive lifestyle due to his skin condition.
  • She devised a new plan: to request a meeting with Marat under the pretense of providing information about moderate traitors planning an uprising.
  • She purchased a 12 cm kitchen knife for the assassination.

The Assassination

• The Meeting: Corday first attempted to see Marat in the morning but was turned away. She returned later that evening, and Marat, intrigued by her claim of having vital information, invited her into his home.
• The Act: Corday was led to Marat's bathroom, where he was soaking in his bathtub. For about 15 minutes, she read out names of supposed traitors, which Marat diligently wrote down. With Marat's guard down, Corday drew her knife and plunged it deep into his chest.
• Immediate Aftermath: Marat called for help. His wife and the distributor of his newspaper rushed in, apprehending Corday. A military surgeon and a dentist attempted to revive Marat, but the knife had pierced an artery near his heart, and he died within seconds.

Trial and Execution of Charlotte Corday

• Public Reaction: News of the assassination spread rapidly, and a crowd gathered, demanding Corday's immediate execution.
• Trial: Corday was tried for treason. During the four-day trial, she maintained that she acted alone, stating, "I killed one man to save 100,000." She emphasized her belief in the revolution's cause but not its violent methods.
• Conviction and Execution: Despite her defense, Corday was found guilty and sentenced to death by guillotine.
• Execution Day: On the day of her execution, Corday requested her portrait be painted and even suggested changes to it. At the guillotine, she was forced to wear a red blouse, signifying her status as a traitor. The execution took place in heavy rain.

The Myth of Post-Decapitation Consciousness

• The Anecdote: Immediately after Corday's head was severed, a man repairing the guillotine picked it up and slapped its cheek. Witnesses claimed that the severed head displayed a look of indignation and even blushed.
• Folklore vs. Science: This anecdote was used for years as "proof" that decapitated individuals might retain consciousness for a short period. However, academic research suggests this is folklore.
• Scientific Consensus: The best available evidence indicates that consciousness is lost almost instantly after decapitation, within one to two seconds.
• Punishment: The man who slapped Corday's head was subsequently jailed for three months for his actions.

Legacy and Conclusion

• Marat's Martyrdom: The assassination did not have the intended effect of stopping the extremist violence. Marat was hailed as a martyr by the Jacobins, while Corday became known as the "angel of assassination" to the moderates.
• Reign of Terror Intensifies: The opposing factions continued to harden, leading to the Reign of Terror, during which an estimated 17,000 people were executed by guillotine.
• Commoners as Victims: Contrary to popular belief, most victims of the guillotine during the revolution were commoners, not just members of the ruling class.
• Political Instability: The revolutionaries' inability to compromise and their internal conflicts ultimately led France into further economic turmoil and political chaos, creating conditions for an ambitious military leader to seize power.