ABSTRACT
Septem ber 1791 to Septem ber 1792: the 805th and last year of the Capetian monarchy; the first and last year of the operation of the constitution of 1791 and of the Legislative Assembly; the year in which France em barked on a war with Austria and Prussia (and shortly after with most of Europe) which would last for a generation; the year in which Robespierre’s political career almost died but rose like a phoenix from the ashes of the monarchy so that for six weeks in August and Septem ber 1792 he was the dictator of Paris. Since Robespierre was polit ically hors de combat for most of this period - he did no t return from Arras until the end of November and was due to take up his legal post in the spring - it will be briefly summarized.
