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| Jacobins club in the former Dominican convent |
Location: 14 Rue du Marché-Saint-Honoré
English Translation
"Nicknamed Jacobins after their motherhouse on Rue Saint-Jacques, the Dominicans moved here in 1613. The entrance to their convent was located at the end of the street, and the cloister stood at the Place du Marché-Saint-Honoré. When the monastic orders were abolished, the Société des Amis de la Constitution (Society of Friends of the Constitution) moved in: it held its meetings in the library, then in the chapel from April 1, 1791. The Jacobin Club played a leading role during the French Revolution, right up to the fall of Robespierre in July 1794. The buildings were destroyed and replaced in 1810 by a market, rebuilt in 1959 and replaced in 1966 by this building designed by Ricardo Bofill." (Translated by DeepL and ChatGPT)
Background notes
- The Dominicans, named after Saint Dominic, were a prominent Catholic order focused on preaching and education. They significantly influenced the intellectual life of the Church through their work in theology and philosophy, with notable members such as Saint Thomas Aquinas.
- The Dominicans were nicknamed "Jacobins" because their Parisian motherhouse (main monastery), established in the 13th century when the order arrived in the city, was located on Rue Saint-Jacques. This street name derives from the Latin Sanctus Jacobus, referring to Saint James the Greater, and the friars who lived there became colloquially known as "Jacobins" in France—a term tied to their location rather than their religious identity. This nickname predates the French Revolution and originally referred to their religious order, not political activity. However, the term "Jacobin" was co-opted for the political club during the French Revolution, as it met in a former Dominican convent.
- The Dominican Order in France was abolished in 1790. This was part of the secularisation policies of the revolutionary government during the French Revolution (1789-1799). Monastic orders were seen as symbols of the Church's wealth and power, which revolutionaries viewed as incompatible with the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Many religious properties were confiscated, sold as biens nationaux (national assets), and repurposed for secular uses.
- The Société des Amis de la Constitution (Society of Friends of the Constitution) was the official name of the Jacobin Club when it was first formed in 1789. It started as a group of deputies from the Estates-General who supported the new Constitution. Over time, it evolved into a more radical political organisation that advocated for republicanism and social reforms.
- The Jacobin Club moved into the former Dominican convent in 1791. It moved its meetings from the convent's library to the chapel on April 1, 1791, marking the club's growing prominence and transition to a larger space to accommodate its increasing membership. This reflected the Jacobins' shift from a smaller intellectual circle to a central force in revolutionary politics.
- The Jacobins were one of the most influential political groups during the French Revolution. They promoted radical republican ideals, advocated for the abolition of the monarchy, and pushed for social and economic reforms. They orchestrated the Reign of Terror (1793-1794), during which thousands were executed for being perceived as enemies of the revolution.
- Maximilien Robespierre, a prominent member of the Jacobin Club, became its leader and a key architect of the Reign of Terror. He justified the use of terror as a means to achieve revolutionary goals.
- Robespierre was arrested and executed on July 28, 1794 (10 Thermidor Year II of the Revolutionary Calendar) during the Thermidorian Reaction, which ended the Reign of Terror and marked the decline of Jacobin influence.
- There are no known remnants of the original Dominican convent. The site has undergone multiple transformations after its destruction, including the market built in 1810, a rebuilding in 1959, and the replacement with Bofill's building in 1966. There have also been further transformations since then.