Blanquist revolutionary and head of the Paris Commune police
“Long live the Commune! Down with the assassins!”
A Blanquist under the Second Empire, Rigault wrote for republican and atheist newspapers and was repeatedly imprisoned for political activity. After the Republic was proclaimed in September 1870, he worked in the political section of the Paris police; following the Commune's uprising, he became head of the police prefecture in March 1871. He served as a Commune councillor and on its General Security Commission, then became its prosecutor in late April, participating in hostage policy and arrests of opponents. During Bloody Week he had the imprisoned lawyer Gustave Chaudey shot; on 24 May 1871, Versailles government troops captured and shot Rigault without trial.
Activities and affiliations
- Security, intelligence and policing · France state institutions
Career Timeline
- 1860년대Joined Blanquist and republican circles and contributed to newspapers; repeatedly imprisoned for political activity.
- 1870년Worked as an official in the political section of the Paris police after the Republic was proclaimed in September.
- 1871년Appointed head of the Paris police on 20 March and elected to the Commune on 26 March; served on the General Security Commission and became the Commune's prosecutor in late April.
- 1871년Ordered the execution of Gustave Chaudey during Bloody Week. Captured by Versailles troops on 24 May and shot without trial.
Related historical events
Security administration and hostage policy
On 20 March 1871 the Central Committee delegated Rigault to the Paris police prefecture; six days later he was elected to the Commune by the 8th arrondissement. Appointed to the General Security Commission on 29 March, he continued as the police prefecture's civil delegate. After military delegate Duval's death, Rigault used his knowledge of the police and its imperial-era apparatus to organize the pursuit and arrest of hostages and suspects. On 4 April he had Georges Darboy, archbishop of Paris, arrested; on 13 April he arrested lawyer Gustave Chaudey. He also ordered or carried out arrests of Commune figures including Lullier, Bergeret, Cluseret and Brunel. On 24 April Rigault said he could not conduct investigations without secrecy and restricted visits by fellow councillors. After leaving the police prefecture, he was appointed Commune prosecutor on 26 April, tasked with investigating National Guardsmen reportedly shot after surrendering and the possible consequences for the hostages.
Rigault voted for the Committee of Public Safety on 2 May. The minutes record him saying on 17 May that he would rather let ten guilty people escape than strike one innocent person; on that same day, however, he proposed a jury of accusation to examine the hostage cases. On 22 May he directed the transfer of hostages to La Roquette prison, and the next day ordered Chaudey and three gendarmes shot. On 24 May he assigned Genton to execute the detained archbishop and four hostages. One account also reports that an exchange of hostages was contemplated, but this does not erase the documented arrests and execution orders made during Rigault's tenure.