If ever a man was an utter toerag, then Robespierre qualified - and in spades.[BBC 2 gave us a full and worthy reminder last night of The Reign of Terror between 1793/ 1794.]
Maxim Robespierre became the leading light on the post-revolutionary Committee of Public Safety.
The problem with this appalling individual was that he was an idealist. As I have noted in this Blog before, having ideals is one thing, being a rampant idealist is quite something else.
The latter type are prepared to torture, imprison, kill, butcher and commit atrocities to gain their own ends.
Fortunately for humanity, this dictator was hoisted by his own petard and deservedly perished guiltily on the self same guillotine to which he had committed so many innocents.
Using 'reasoned terror' as a political tool, he was the first in modern times so to do.
He paved a bloody way for: Lenin, Mao, Stalin, Hitler, Che, Pol Pot and countless more.
