10. The Commune at Marseilles, Toulouse and Narbonne¶
Core Argument¶
The news of 18 March struck Marseilles like a powder-magazine. Clubs were immediately thronged. Gaston Crémieux, speaking at the National Guard club, denounced Versailles and urged action, but was cautioned against haste; the club argued the Central Committee’s proclamations, signed by unknown names, might be Bonapartist. Crémieux later calmed the El Dorado club, securing an oath of unity for the defence of Paris. The prefect, Admiral Cosnier, a cipher and tool of the reaction, then provoked the population by ordering an armed demonstration for Versailles. On 23 March, popular battalions mustered in strength while the battalions of order stayed invisible. The municipal council disavowed the demonstration. The crowd besieged the prefecture, arrested the prefect and others, and formed a Commission of six members, later reinforced by delegates from the municipal council and the club. The Commission proclaimed it would support a regularly constituted Republican government in Paris. The army evacuated the town; General Espivent fled to Aubagne. The Commission soon faced internal disagreements, with moderates opposing the red flag and hostage-keeping. The municipal council declared itself the only power, trimming between reaction and the people.
At Toulouse, the working-class faubourg St. Cyprien had mounted guard for Paris since 19 March. The prefect, Duportal, refused to break with Versailles. M. Thiers sent Kératry as prefect, but he retreated on finding the garrison weak. On 23 March, after the mayor and council fled, Duportal was left alone and declared for Versailles. On 24 March, officers of the National Guard proclaimed the Commune and forced Duportal to lead them. The Commune issued a milk-and-water manifesto calling for mediation and dissolution of the Assembly. It neglected basic precautions. Kératry returned with cavalry and soldiers on 26 March, occupied key points, and the insurgent leaders fled. The working men of Toulouse were left in the lurch.
At Narbonne, the Commune was proclaimed on 24 March by Digeon, an exile of firm character. The people seized the Hôtel-de-Ville. The departmental insurrections required coordination to survive. The insurgent leader prepared to march on Béziers with promised support from Béziers and Cette. On the 28th, two companies of Turcos arrived, followed by further troops from Montpellier, Toulouse, and Perpignan. Digeon was then forced onto the defensive, ordering barricades built, posts reinforced, and Federals to await attacks and target officers. By the 28th, when Paris was still celebrating victory, all provincial Communes except those of Marseilles and Narbonne had been crushed. The other provincial movements were merely momentary vibrations.