I am writing an intellectual biography of Claude Fauchet, a French cleric and revolutionary. Fauchet was one of several revolutionary priests, and as a group, these figures provide an interesting puzzle: how did each of these men maintain commitments to both the church and republic at a time when the revolution had grown violently anti-religious. While some of these clerics have been the object of significant scholarship, this is not the case with Fauchet. Yet Fauchet lived a fascinating political life, having helped lead the charge on the Bastille and serving in the National Convention and the Assembly of the Paris Commune.
The crux of my thesis lies in understanding Fauchet’s intellectual life, highlighting the ideologies and aspirations that made a revolutionary out of this priest. In his writings, Fauchet merged Eighteenth century Catholic theology with Enlightenment philosophy, leading to a novel set of beliefs among revolutionaries. These texts and sermons will form the foundation of my sourcework - Fauchet’s manuscript De la religion nationale, articles from his journal La bouche de fer, and the Cahier de Doleance that he co-wrote with leaders of the Parisian clergy have been particularly helpful. In an ideal world, I would also have access to some items from his correspondence with fellow revolutionaries.
Ultimately, I hope that this thesis will not only present the life and thought of this neglected thinker, but meditate on larger questions of profound importance to the Revolution and contemporary France: do church and republic exist in dialectic? In what ways can religious faith inspire revolutionary thinking? And is it possible to truly separate religion and politics?
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