Bignon Commission (French Revolution)
The Bignon Commission (French: commission Bignon; 1793–1794) was a French military tribunal that terrorized Nantes during the French Revolution. The president of the tribunal was Antoine Gonchon but it came to be known after François Bignon, captain of the 2nd battalion of Paris Volunteers, who directed most of its proceedings.
During the Reign of Terror, the radicals had little trust in their revolutionary government. With living conditions and hunger still an issue even after King Louis XVI’s death, the people were unsatisfied with the committees. As a result, while some people were trained, mostly guerrilla warfare was utilized by the radicals, and they caused a big uproar. These counter-revolutionaries were called the Vendee. Generals of the Vendee often clashed with the leaders of the Committee of Public Safety.
The Bignon Commission was created among many other commissions that were intended to catch the radicals who had fled, and sentence them to death. The accused were not allowed to have a lawyer. The military officials and citizens were able to act as judges and the sentences had to be made immediately. Others such as the Brutus and Frey Commissions, Parien and Felix Commissions, amongst others, executed many people, but the Lenoir and Bignon Commissions were responsible for the most deaths, counting at 4000 in Nantes.
Most were executed by shooting ranges, including girls as young at 17. By 1794, about eighty people were killed per day. Many people were also drowned. People were tied together, herded on boats, and then drowned in packs. No records were kept of this event. Alongside the commissions, the local militia supported the initiative. For example, the Marat Company was able to execute large groups of people with Jean-Baptiste Carrier’s support, who was in favor of quick execution in order to free prison space.
See also
- Bignon Commission (1693–1718), a separate commission which began work on the Descriptions of the Arts and Trades of France