Thermidorians

participants in the counterrevolutionary Thermidorian coup of 1794, after which they took part in the Thermidorian Convention and later played an important role in the Directory.

The Thermidorian bloc was divided into two factions: the right Thermidorians and the left Thermidorians. The right Thermidorians, headed by J.-L. Tallien, P. Barras, and J. Fouché, were the main faction. These former Jacobins represented the interests of the new bourgeoisie that had enriched itself through speculation. The left Thermidorians, most of whom had previously been left Jacobins, were led by J. Collot d’Herbois, J. Billaud-Varenne, and M. Vadier. After the execution of M. Robespierre and his associates, the right Thermidorians strove to oust the leftists from power.

After the rebellion of Germinal in 1795, the main leaders of the left Thermidorians were arrested, and the entire faction was disbanded, even though the members of the faction had taken no part in the rebellion.