Charlotte Corday

Description: (French Revolutionary Who Was Executed for the Assassination of Jacobin Leader Jean-Paul Marat)

Marie-Anne Charlotte de Corday d'Armont, better known as Charlotte Corday, was a French moderate who was active during the French Revolution. After she assassinated Jacobin leader Jean-Paul Marat, she was apprehended and executed by guillotine. Originally from Normandy, Corday lost her mother when she was quite young. She subsequently grew up in the Abbaye aux Dames convent in Caen. As the revolution became more radicalised and acts of terror started to occur more frequently, Corday was drawn towards the Girondins. She was inspired by their speeches and became close to various Girondist groups that she came across while residing in Caen. The Girondins believed in a moderate path to the revolution and were worried, along with Corday, about the trajectory on which the revolution was heading. Her vehement opposition towards the radicals and the instigators of the Reign of Terror eventually led her to the decision of going forward with the assassination of Marat, a highly influential politician and journalist who played a significant role in the radicalization of the revolution. Corday was 24 years old when she was executed. In 1847, author Alphonse de Lamartine bestowed upon her a posthumous nickname, l'ange de l'assassinat (the Angel of Assassination).

Overview

Birthday July 27, 1768 (Leo)
Born In France
Alternative names Marie-Anne Charlotte de Corday d'Armont
Died on July 17, 1793
Parents Jacques-François de Corday d’Armont
Charlotte Marie Jacqueline Gaultier de Mesnival

Did you know

How did Charlotte Corday justify her assassination of Jean-Paul Marat? Charlotte Corday justified her assassination of Jean-Paul Marat by stating that she believed it was a necessary act to protect the country from his radical influence.
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