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First Deputy, Committee of Public Safety
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Maximilien Robespierre

paranoid ideologically rigid defensive conflicted authoritative suspicious urgent ideological desperate
Revolutionary leader and First Deputy of the Committee of Public Safety, architect of the Reign of Terror with systemic authority over surveillance, executions, and countering internal threats. Superior to LeMaitre, who serves as his prison-based enforcer. Known for paranoia, authoritarianism, and ideological extremism during the French Revolution. Directs the Committee of Public Safety as the dominant force behind the Reign of Terror, enforcing revolutionary purity through mass executions and purges while commanding loyalty from subordinates like LeMaitre and alienating rivals such as Paul Barrass. His ideological zeal sustains his power amid factional plots, but paranoia and overreach lead to his arrest, jaw wound, and execution. Interacts with key figures including Susan Foreman, the Doctor (First Incarnation), Barbara Wright, Ian Chesterton, and prison officials. Embodying the Revolution's radical core, he balances ruthless authority with desperate appeals to public safety in his final moments.
24 appearances
Revolutionary Politics
Also known as: Robespierre, Citizen Robespierre

Maximilien Robespierre's Journey

A timeline through the narrative

24 moments
S1E39 · A Change of Identity
LeMaitre threatens the Jailer with imprisonment

Not directly observable, but inferred as ruthless and unyielding. His presence—even indirectly—creates an atmosphere of dread and urgency, driving the actions of both LeMaitre and the Jailer.

Robespierre is not physically present in the scene but looms as an unseen, omnipotent authority whose name alone instills fear in both the Jailer and LeMaitre. His influence is felt …

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S1E39 · A Change of Identity
Doctor trades coat for prison disguise

Cautiously opportunistic, balancing revolutionary fervor with pragmatic self-interest, with a underlying tension as he weighs the value of the Doctor’s offerings against potential risks.

The Tailor, a shrewd and opportunistic businessman, initially greets the Doctor with cautious professionalism but quickly reveals his revolutionary sympathies and eagerness to curry favor with the regime. He engages …

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S1E39 · A Change of Identity
Doctor barters for revolutionary disguise

Cautiously opportunistic, balancing revolutionary zeal with pragmatic self-interest to maximize profit from the Doctor’s desperation.

The Tailor, a shrewd and opportunistic businessman, initially dismisses the Doctor’s worn coat but becomes intrigued by its unique craftsmanship. He seizes the opportunity to exploit the chaotic atmosphere of …

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S1E40 · The Tyrant of France
Doctor Provokes Robespierre’s Paranoia

A volatile mix of defensive pride (justifying his actions as necessary for the revolution) and deep-seated paranoia (fearing conspiracies even among allies). His confession about the executions reveals moral fatigue, while his invitation to the Doctor hints at cautious curiosity—a rare moment of vulnerability in an otherwise authoritarian demeanor.

Robespierre sits rigidly behind his desk, a symbol of his authority, as he listens to LeMaitre’s report and engages in a tense verbal duel with the Doctor. His posture is …

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S1E40 · The Tyrant of France
Doctor Challenges Robespierre’s Ideology

A volatile mix of defiance and despair, masking deep exhaustion and paranoia. His surface confidence cracks as he admits the psychological toll of his actions, revealing a man trapped by his own ideology.

Robespierre sits behind his desk, reviewing LeMaitre’s report on recent executions while engaging in a tense ideological debate with the Doctor. He initially dismisses the Doctor’s focus on Paris but …

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S1E40 · The Tyrant of France
Robespierre’s Paranoid Confession

A volatile mix of defensive righteousness (initially) and gnawing self-loathing (as the Doctor’s questions erode his composure). His surface tone oscillates between cold bureaucratic detachment and raw, trembling confession, revealing a man drowning in the consequences of his own ideology. The subtext is one of isolation: he is surrounded by subordinates (LeMaitre) and enemies (the Doctor, Convention members), yet his greatest adversary is his own conscience.

Robespierre begins the event seated behind his desk, exuding an air of bureaucratic authority as he reviews LeMaitre’s execution list. His initial demeanor is dismissive, even patronizing, as he deflects …

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S1E40 · The Tyrant of France
Doctor Challenges Robespierre’s Justifications

Feigned resolve masking deep anxiety and moral exhaustion, with flashes of defensive rage.

Robespierre sits behind his desk, initially dismissive of the Doctor’s critique but gradually reveals his paranoia and moral conflict. He admits the bloodshed weighs on him but insists it is …

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S1E40 · The Tyrant of France
LeMaitre imprisons the Doctor

Not directly observable, but inferred as paranoid and controlling, with a deep-seated need to maintain power through fear and detention.

Robespierre is referenced indirectly by LeMaitre as the ultimate authority behind the Doctor’s detention. His expectation of the Doctor’s return the next day is cited as the justification for LeMaitre’s …

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S1E41 · A Bargain of Necessity
LeMaitre defies Robespierre for Susan

Unseen but implied as impatient and commanding (his message demands immediate action)

Robespierre is referenced indirectly through the Jailer’s urgent message, his demand for LeMaitre’s immediate presence framing the power struggle. Though absent, his authority looms over the scene, his 'matter of …

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S1E41 · A Bargain of Necessity
Robespierre reveals indictment plot to LeMaitre

Paranoid and desperate, teetering on the edge of panic as he grapples with the imminent threat to his power. His voice wavers between urgency and righteous indignation, revealing a man who feels cornered but refuses to back down.

Robespierre paces agitatedly in his office, his voice rising with each revelation as he confides in LeMaitre about the impending indictment. His hands tremble slightly as he gestures emphatically, his …

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S1E41 · A Bargain of Necessity
Robespierre orders LeMaitre to expose Barrass

A volatile mix of fear and righteous indignation. His paranoia is palpable, bordering on hysteria, as he grapples with the possibility of his downfall. Yet, his authority remains intact, and he channels his desperation into decisive action, leveraging LeMaitre’s loyalty to his advantage.

Robespierre paces his office like a caged animal, his voice rising and falling with the weight of his paranoia. He reveals the existence of the indictment with a mix of …

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S1E41 · A Bargain of Necessity
Jules admits killing Leon

Not applicable (Robespierre is not physically present, but his ideological legacy is a source of tension and moral conflict for the characters). His invocation carries a tone of dread and disillusionment, as if his name alone is enough to sour the air in the room.

Robespierre is invoked indirectly by Jules and Barbara as a symbol of the Revolution’s extremism. Though physically absent, his ideological shadow looms over the debate: Jules uses him as a …

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S1E41 · A Bargain of Necessity
Barbara and Ian debate revolution's morality

Not applicable (off-screen, invoked symbolically). His ideological legacy, however, fuels the group’s moral conflict, acting as a catalyst for Barbara’s defense of revolutionary ideals and Ian’s rejection of them.

Robespierre is invoked as a symbolic antagonist, his extremism serving as a foil for Barbara’s idealism. Though physically absent, his ideological shadow looms over the debate, embodying the revolution’s moral …

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S1E42 · Prisoners of Conciergerie
Stirling reveals true identity and mission

Frustrated and protective; his anger at Stirling’s manipulation is tempered by the realization that cooperation is the only path to Susan’s freedom.

The Doctor acts as the group’s moral anchor, fiercely resisting Stirling’s plan due to its risks. He demands Susan’s immediate release, challenging Stirling’s authority and the ethics of using her …

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S1E42 · Prisoners of Conciergerie
Stirling reveals his true mission

Frustrated and protective, but ultimately pragmatic. His emotional state is a mix of anger at Stirling’s manipulation and deep concern for Susan’s well-being, driving him to accept the risky plan as the only viable option.

The Doctor is initially confrontational, demanding Susan’s immediate release and resisting Stirling’s proposal. However, after Ian and Barbara’s insistence, he reluctantly agrees to the infiltration plan, prioritizing Susan’s safety and …

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S1E42 · Prisoners of Conciergerie
Napoleon’s conditional coup alliance

Not applicable (off-screen), but his presence is felt as a specter of revolutionary violence—his downfall is the coup’s catalyst, but his legacy of terror lingers.

Maximilien Robespierre is never physically present in the backroom, but his shadow looms over every word. Barrass and Napoleon reference him as the coup’s target, their voices tinged with a …

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S1E42 · Prisoners of Conciergerie
Napoleon’s Conditional Alliance

Not physically present, but his ideological rigidity and fear of betrayal are implied as the catalyst for his impending downfall.

Maximilien Robespierre is referenced only indirectly in the conversation, his looming execution serving as the linchpin of Barrass and Napoleon’s negotiation. His absence is palpable—his ideological zeal and purges have …

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S1E42 · Prisoners of Conciergerie
Stirling splits the group over Susan’s rescue

Not applicable (absent), but his mention evokes a mix of dread and resignation—his downfall is treated as both a relief and a tragedy.

Robespierre is the absent antagonist whose fate dominates the scene’s tension. His impending arrest is the ticking clock against which the group’s plans unfold, his name a shorthand for the …

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S1E42 · Prisoners of Conciergerie
Robespierre’s violent downfall shifts priorities

Desperate and defiant in his final speech, but utterly broken in the aftermath—his emotional state shifts from defiance to shock as he is dragged away, his power and influence shattered.

Robespierre delivers a final, desperate speech promising safety to the citizens, his voice trembling with a mix of defiance and desperation. His words are cut short by a gunshot, and …

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S1E42 · Prisoners of Conciergerie
Doctor exploits jailer’s paranoia with false authority

Irrelevant (off-screen), but his downfall is a source of fear and opportunity for others.

Robespierre is mentioned as having been overthrown and smuggled away by his friends. His downfall is leveraged by the Doctor as a tool to manipulate the Jailer, creating a sense …

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S1E42 · Prisoners of Conciergerie
Robespierre’s arrest and the group’s escape plan

Absent (implied: defeated, in pain, resigned to his fate).

Robespierre is a passive but pivotal figure in this moment—his arrival, wounded and captive, symbolizes the Revolution’s violent self-destruction. The soldiers’ shouts and the group’s reactions frame him as a …

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S1E42 · Prisoners of Conciergerie
Stirling reveals escape plan to Calais

N/A (off-screen, but his capture evokes a mix of dread and resignation in the group).

Robespierre is referenced only through the Soldier’s announcement of his capture and Stirling’s revelation of his jaw wound. His absence is a looming specter—symbolizing the group’s failed mission and the …

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S1E42 · Prisoners of Conciergerie
Susan’s Liberation and Robespierre’s Fall

Broken, humiliated, and powerless

Robespierre is dragged in by soldiers as a broken prisoner, his once-unassailable power now reduced to humiliation. The jailer’s mocking deference and the soldiers’ contempt underscore his fall from grace, …

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S1E42 · Prisoners of Conciergerie
Susan Witnesses Robespierre’s Fall

Humiliated and powerless (his fall is a public spectacle, reducing him to a broken figure at the mercy of his former subordinates).

Robespierre is dragged into the corridor by soldiers, powerless and humiliated. His inability to communicate or resist is highlighted by the Soldier’s mockery, stripping him of his former authority. The …

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Affiliation

Robespierre’s Prison Enforcement Circle
Revolutionary Carceral Enforcement and Detention