Georges Darboy-PARIS COMMUNE

Darboy [PARIS COMMUNE]

Carte de visite portrait of Georges Darboy (1813-1871) the French Catholic archbishop of Paris executed by the Paris Commune in 24th May 1871.

He was among a group of prominent hostages executed as the Paris Commune of 1871 was about to be overthrown. He is also known for his opposition in 1868 to Jacques-Paul Migne, forbidding him to continue his low-cost books business after the burning of his printing establishment, having suspended him from his priestly functions. On 4 April 1871, he was arrested by the communards as a hostage and confined in the prison at Mazasi, from which he was transferred to La Roquette on the advance of the army of Versailles. 

On 24 May he was shot within the prison along with several other prominent hostages. The execution was ordered by Theophile Ferre. He died in the attitude of blessing and uttering words of forgiveness. His body was recovered with difficulty, and, having been embalmed, was buried with imposing ceremony at public expense on 7 June.