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Primary sourceDocument19 August 1792

Aux tribunaux

Georges Danton · 19 August 1792

A printed circular issued under Danton's name as Minister of Justice in August 1792, addressed to the courts following the storming of the Tuileries.

This circular was issued by Danton himself as Minister of Justice, in his own official voice.

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Title page of the printed circular 'Aux tribunaux' with a handwritten note 'Par Danton, Ministre de la Justice, 19 août 1792' and a Bibliothèque Impériale stamp and an ACQ.46.194 Labédoyère library stamp.
Georges Danton, Aux tribunaux, 19 August 1792.

About this source

What it is

This is a printed circular titled 'Aux tribunaux,' issued under the name of Georges Danton as Minister of Justice, dated 19 August 1792. It announces events following the storming of the Tuileries Palace and is addressed to judges and officials of the courts. A copy survives with library stamps marking its later ownership.

Why it matters

This document shows Danton acting in an official government role just after the fall of the monarchy, using his position to communicate with the judicial system during a moment of revolutionary upheaval. It is a rare piece of writing in his own official voice from a pivotal week in the Revolution.

Look closer

  • Why might a new government want to send an official circular to judges right after a violent uprising?
  • What language does the text use to describe the events at the Tuileries, and what does that tell us about the writer's point of view?
  • What might this document leave out about what actually happened?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Georges Danton on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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