ABSTRACT
Revolution came to France in 1789. It was not, however, inspired by a group of religious ascetics or, indeed, of worldly ascetics. Mirabeau is typical of the nonascetic leader of the early years, to be followed in a position of power by Danton. Robespierre's revolutionary ascetic leadership was neither religiously inspired in any specific sense nor able to appeal forcefully to any tradition of religious asceticism. It was revolutionary, but it was never able to institutionalize itself. This chapter looks at the role of revolutionary asceticism in the French Revolution. Robespierre, was a disciple of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Rousseau, too, had glorified the people. Though both Robespierre and Rousseau abandoned intellectually the religion in which they had been raised, they transmuted many of its ideas into a secular ideology. Robespierre's ascetic and virtuous nature initially helped him to lead his fellow French citizens, at least for a while, in the direction of greater liberty, fraternity, and equality.
