Gabriel

Born: ~November 1, 1767, on the outskirts of Paris, France, second son of a lower middle-class family subsisting steps away from poverty. In late 1792, he has just turned 25.

Gabriel has a living father and brother (Camille Louis, age 50, and Georges-Marie Andre, age 28). He had been told that his mother (Marie) died in childbirth; the actual truth is that, while the
woman did die in that way, it was obviously not while bearing Gabriel. That child died not long after its mother; the wet-nurse, seeing how distraught Louis was, switched the infant with an orphan child she had in her care, hoping that raising the child would bring the man some happiness. That orphan, of course, was Gabriel. Neither he nor any of his family members know that he is not actually of their blood.

His father is a moderately educated man of little means (having learned to write and figure sums through the charity of a priest), and labors as a clerk in the main Paris court of law. Gabriel's brother is following in his father's footsteps. Gabriel was given as good an education as his father could afford, naturally, and even had a knack for the law, but the studies bored him. He spent his free time outside, learning how to track and hunt (albeit illegally) -- much to the despair of his father, who held higher ambitions for his younger son. During his studies Gabriel found a good balance of his interests lay in investigative work, which was much more interesting than sitting in a lightless room every day hunched over ledgers. Against the wishes of his father, he joined the gendarmerie, as he knew (poor as the family was) that he could never become a lawyer.

He did not remain enamored of this career choice for long. One, most of the work of the gendarmerie was brute force, not espionage or anything remotely interesting, or even challenging. Two, he found that he did not like working in large groups, preferring to work either alone or in small numbers. Three, he didn't like blindly following the orders of leaders he had no respect for
-- and independent thought by individual members of the gendarmerie was routinely discouraged. Nevertheless, having made his choice he stayed, excelled, and won the respect of many of his comrades.

1789 brought much upheaval to Paris. The formation of the Congress sparked much rioting, and it was the duty of the gendarmerie to quell all such public disturbances. Neither Gabriel nor a good number of his fellows found the thought of firing on their own countrymen agreeable, and this order was given by their superior officers in July of that year. Gabriel refused, as did several others, and before the officers could arrest them they disappeared (armed) into the crowds.

Swept away in the excitement of revolution, Gabriel took a part in the uprisings with fervor, being especially stirred by the words of Camille Desmoulins. Four days after he left the gendarmerie he took a major role in the storming of the Bastille. During the siege he helped to aim the cannon at the door, which entailed being out in the open and directly in the line of fire. It was there that the highest numbers of the Parisian mob were killed. Somehow managing not to get shot, he helped blow up the doors, which allowed the mob to take the fortress.

In June 1790 he was honored for his role in the storming of the Bastille along with 952 others.
Each was given the title Vainqueur de la Bastille and rewarded with a sword and musket with his
name engraved on blade and barrel. Gabriel carries these with him proudly, never going anywhere without them. After this, however, he was somewhat at a loss of what to do. He neither could nor would go back to the gendarmerie, and to many of the authorities who could have employed him his actions seemed treasonous -- what commander would hire a man who had directly disobeyed orders and abandoned his post? As the Revolution progressed, he become more and more radical and sympathetic to the cause of the true democracy without any taint of monarchy. He started to read the most radical of the journals, joined the Cordelier Club, and often visited the Jacobin Club. This is when he began to develop such absolute regard for Robespierre. Gabriel was well received as one of the Vainqueurs, and the more radical and powerful members of the club began to think of ways to use his talents.

At this time the lines were being drawn between the conservative and radical revolutionaries
those who believed the king still had a place in the government and those who did not. The
radicals were keeping an eye out on all aristocrats and began tracking their movements and
actions. The leaders of the Cordeliers decided they needed their own men to do this, not trusting in the loyalty of the Guard. Gabriel was approached as one of the first members of this secret force. He accepted the offer immediately.

In 1792 war against Austria and Prussia was declared. The people of Paris and their radical
representatives were evermore paranoid of noble treachery. Gabriel found his duties increased.
Spying, tracking, arresting, he felt that he was in his natural element at last. He truly enjoyed his
work, uncovering plots and bringing them to the attention of the likes of the journalists Marat and Herbert, with whom they would not stay secret for long. Though he was not the head of this secret and not quite legal police force, he was one of its most feared members. His reputation began to grow. One of his favorite assignments was to help safeguard journalist Jean-Paul Marat, who was under almost constant threat of arrest at this point and was spending most of his time in hiding. Gabriel helped to establish safe houses and routes for the journalist to find shelter in.

He took part in the storming of the Tuileries, taking a role in helping to organization the mass demonstration. He also fought in what turned out to be the massacre of the King's Swiss Guards.

In fall 1792 the more radical representatives came to power (among them Marat, Danton, Saint-Just, and Robespierre). The secret police received even more funding, and expanded their efforts to root out treachery wherever it was based. In early December Saint-Just called for the trial and execution of the King. Gabriel's life at this point was a whirlwind of activity, since there were many plots to free the King. It is during the pursuit of one of the conspirators that he is first killed.