Maximilien Robespierre

About Maximilien Robespierre

Maximilien Robespierre was a pivotal, and ultimately tragic, figure of the French Revolution, known for his unwavering commitment to revolutionary principles and his role as a leading Jacobin. As the driving force behind the Committee of Public Safety, he became the architect of the Reign of Terror (1793–1794), a period intended to purge France of perceived enemies of the Revolution, which ultimately led to his own downfall and execution in 1794. His radical actions fundamentally shaped the course of modern political history, securing his ranking as the #236 most historically important figure according to the MIT Pantheon project.

Despite this profound historical significance, Robespierre's modern internet attention appears relatively robust, earning him 1.2 million Wikipedia views in 2025. This level of attention warrants a +3x overattention rating relative to his HPI rank, indicating that, in the digital age, his notoriety still commands significant curiosity. For contrast, his view count is significantly lower than modern political figures like John F. Kennedy (7.1M views), though he surpasses the attention received by figures like Elizabeth I of England (#14 importance, only 319K views).

However, his 2025 attention signals a slight decline: his view count decreased by 6.5% year-over-year, and his quarterly momentum between Q1 and Q3 dropped by 20%, suggesting a slow fade from the immediate focus of the online public.