Although Barnave began as a committed revolutionary, he played an interesting role in trying to save the crown.
To quote from Vive la Reine:
Antoine Barnave was one of three men chosen to personally travel with the royal family as they were forced back to Paris after their capture at Varennes. Although Barnave had previously attacked the monarchy, he became sympathetic towards the royal family - and Marie Antoinette in particular - after witnessing their courage and misfortune during the return to Paris.
In July 1791, Marie Antoinette began a secret correspondence with him, believing that he could use his influence in the Assembly to work towards restrengthening the position of the king and restoring order to the government. He was a member of the Feuillant party, which split from the Jacobin party in July 1791, primarily due to desiring a constitutional monarchy.
However, his influence and that of the Feuillant party faded and he left Paris in early 1792, seeing that his continued efforts were hopeless.
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4 comments:
I have met guys like Barnave... the sort of man who thinks "She WANTS me!" every time a passably attractive female is friendly and conversational with him. Very common male delusion.
I think he was projecting his own lust onto poor Madame Elisabeth, who had been in a coach for hours and was going back to house arrest. Romance was probably the farthest thing from her mind.
Was it not Petion who thought Madame Elisabeth fell in love with him?
I love your blog and, increasingly, the Catholic bent of it. Thanks for all the work you put in to it.
You are right! It WAS that dreadful Petion! Forgive me, Barnave!
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