Thermidor, the Directory, and Napoleon's Rise to Power

The Law of 22 Prairial (June 1794) further simplified the Revolutionary Tribunal's procedures, eliminating practically any effective safeguard for the accused and dramatically intensifying executions during what became known as the "Great Terror." Robespierre's growing concentration of power bred fear among other Convention deputies, and on 9 Thermidor Year II (27 July 1794) a group of conspiring deputies organized his downfall. Robespierre was arrested, wounded, and executed without formal trial barely a day later, along with Saint-Just and his closest collaborators.