In Revolutionary France, there were three competing factions: The constitutional monarchists, called Feuillants; the hawkish republicans, known as the Girondists; and the radical Montagnards, which won out and succeeded in purging the other two in OTL.
The Feuillants called for a constitutional monarchy, and were led by a triumvirate of Antoine Barnave, Alexandre de Lamethe, and Adrien Duport. In the early days of the revolution, this faction was firmly in control. However, they opposed enfranchisement of the poor, and became unpopular in less than a year. After the King's flight to Varennes, they were branded royalists and ousted.
The Girondists were less of a solid faction and more a label for the less-radical republicans. They were led by Jacques-Pierre Brissot, who wanted to militarily export the revolution to the rest of Europe, but they insisted on keeping the King alive for negotiation purposes. They were firmly in power and controlled the entire revolutionary government after the King's arrest.
Robespierre and his Montagnards opposed war, believing (rightly) that a war would elevate the generals into positions of power, which would then lead to a reactionary coup. While Lafayette was away fighting the Austrian army, the Montagnards and Girondists mounted an insurrection and captured the King. Lafayette, on hearing the news, tried to persuade his men to return to Paris to fight the insurrection, but he had committed several political miscalculations and had lost all his support.
The Girondists were still in control at this time, but when they defended Louis XVI at his trial they became suspected of Royalism. After his execution, royalists revolted in Western France and the monarchs of Europe united against the Republic. The Montagnards capitalized on the resulting atmosphere of fear and paranoia by accusing the Girondists of treason, purging and executing most of them.
My question is, what would Revolutionary France look like if:
1) The Feuillants managed to reign in the radicals, and properly instituted the Constitution of 1791 with Barnave at the head under the nominal authority of the King?
2) Lafayette had not alienated his supporters, and managed to launch a counter-coup in 1792?
3) The Girondists had kept control and purged Robespierre in 1793 instead of the other way around?
The Feuillants called for a constitutional monarchy, and were led by a triumvirate of Antoine Barnave, Alexandre de Lamethe, and Adrien Duport. In the early days of the revolution, this faction was firmly in control. However, they opposed enfranchisement of the poor, and became unpopular in less than a year. After the King's flight to Varennes, they were branded royalists and ousted.
The Girondists were less of a solid faction and more a label for the less-radical republicans. They were led by Jacques-Pierre Brissot, who wanted to militarily export the revolution to the rest of Europe, but they insisted on keeping the King alive for negotiation purposes. They were firmly in power and controlled the entire revolutionary government after the King's arrest.
Robespierre and his Montagnards opposed war, believing (rightly) that a war would elevate the generals into positions of power, which would then lead to a reactionary coup. While Lafayette was away fighting the Austrian army, the Montagnards and Girondists mounted an insurrection and captured the King. Lafayette, on hearing the news, tried to persuade his men to return to Paris to fight the insurrection, but he had committed several political miscalculations and had lost all his support.
The Girondists were still in control at this time, but when they defended Louis XVI at his trial they became suspected of Royalism. After his execution, royalists revolted in Western France and the monarchs of Europe united against the Republic. The Montagnards capitalized on the resulting atmosphere of fear and paranoia by accusing the Girondists of treason, purging and executing most of them.
My question is, what would Revolutionary France look like if:
1) The Feuillants managed to reign in the radicals, and properly instituted the Constitution of 1791 with Barnave at the head under the nominal authority of the King?
2) Lafayette had not alienated his supporters, and managed to launch a counter-coup in 1792?
3) The Girondists had kept control and purged Robespierre in 1793 instead of the other way around?
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