Conspiracy of the Equals
A 1796 engraving, denigrating the conspiracy (1796) | |
| Native name | Conjuration des Égaux |
|---|---|
| Date | May 1796 |
| Location | France |
| Type | Political plot |
| Cause | Dissatisfaction with the Directory |
| Organised by | François-Noël Babeuf Philippe Buonarroti Sylvain Maréchal |
| Outcome | Conspiracy discovered and repressed |
| Arrests | 245 presumed conspirators |
| Sentence | Capital punishment |
The Conspiracy of the Equals (French: Conjuration des Égaux) of May 1796 was a failed coup d'etat during the French Revolution. It was led by François-Noël Babeuf, who wanted to overthrow the Directory and replace it with an egalitarian and proto-socialist republic, inspired by Jacobin ideals.