The Reign of Terror refers to a period of intense violence and political repression that occurred during the French Revolution from 1793 to 1794. This era was characterized by the radicalization of the revolutionaries and the establishment of the Committee of Public Safety, led by Maximilien Robespierre.

During the Reign of Terror, the revolutionaries sought to secure the gains of the Revolution by purging France of its perceived enemies, both internal and external. The Committee of Public Safety wielded considerable power and implemented policies that aimed to eradicate counter-revolutionary activities and preserve the ideals of the Revolution at all costs.

One of the most infamous aspects of the Reign of Terror was the mass executions carried out through the use of the guillotine. Thousands of individuals, including nobles, clergy, and even ordinary citizens, were executed on charges of counter-revolutionary activities or being enemies of the state. The most notable among them was King Louis XVI and his wife Queen Marie Antoinette, whose executions symbolized the overthrow of the monarchy.