Adonis Diaries

Prophecy of Reign of Terror: La Harpe to Jacques Cazotte

Who in the audience will be decapitated during the French Revolution?

Jacques Cazotte  (1719-1792) who published “The Amorous Devil“, which started the fantastic kind of literature, was a member of the group that met in 1788 with La Harpe and several illustrious people at a dinner. Many were academicians and of the aristocratic sphere. La Harpe stated:

“You, Condorcet you’ll die in prison. Chamfort, you’ll cut your veins to death. Nicolai, you’ll end at the  scaffold (echafaud, guillotine), You, de Malesherbes on the scaffold. You Bailly sur l”echafaud.

You, duchess of Gramont along with many of your genders you’ll end at the echafaud…

Only the King Louis 16 will be granted the grace to confess before being beheaded…

“Cazotte too will end up at the guillotine.

The reign of Terror of the revolution during Robespierre lasted 2 years (1792-93) and witnessed 17,000 citizens of all classes being decapitated. Only 15% of these victims were from the noble or aristocratic classes.

Every morning, two to three carriages filled with convicts were sent to the guillotine.

Marshal Rochambeau, hero of the Yorktown victory during the American insurgency was saved at the last minute. The carriage was already full and the guard shoved Rochambeau aside saying: “Your turn is tomorrow old Marshal”.

Tomorrow happened to be the day Robespierre himself was guillotined and the old Marshal lived a very comfortable live in his castle.

“The lover of former king Louis 15, Madame du Barry said to the  butcher: “Please, give me a minute more

Many illustrious scientists were decapitated such as Lavoisier

The butcher kissed the hand of his Queen Marie-Antoinette before activating the guillotine.