Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 29 minutes ago
The guillotine is one of the most famous symbols of the French Revolution. Images of the tall wooden machine, its angled blade, and the crowds that gathered to watch executions have become closely linked with the period known as the Reign of Terror. Between 1793 and 1794, thousands of people were executed in France. Men and women from every level of society met their end beneath the blade. Kings, queens, aristocrats, priests, political opponents, and ordinary citizens all found themselves condemned by the revolutionary government.
The guillotine is one of the most famous symbols of the French Revolution. Images of the tall wooden machine, its angled blade, and the crowds that gathered to watch executions have become closely linked with the period known as the Reign of Terror. Between 1793 and 1794, thousands of people were executed in France. Men and women from every level of society met their end beneath the blade. Kings, queens, aristocrats, priests, political opponents, and ordinary citizens all found themselves condemned by the revolutionary government.
