TheMontagnardshadatfirstonlyaveryslightinfluence。Theirpowerwasoflatergrowth。WhentheywereinpowertherewasnolongerroomintheConventionformoderatemembers。
DespitetheirminoritytheMontagnardsfoundawaytoforcetheAssemblytobringLouistotrial。ThiswasatonceavictoryovertheGirondists，thecondemnationofallkings，andafinaldivorcebetweentheoldorderandthenew。
Tobringaboutthetrialtheymanoeuvredveryskilfully，bombardingtheConventionwithpetitionsfromtheprovinces，andsendingadeputationfromtheinsurrectionalCommuneofParis，whichdemandedatrial。
AccordingtoacharacteristiccommontotheAssembliesoftheRevolution，thatofyieldingtothreatsandalwaysdoingthecontraryofwhattheywished，themenoftheConventiondarednotresist。Thetrialwasdecidedupon。
TheGirondists，whoindividuallywouldnothavewishedforthedeathoftheking，votedforitoutoffearoncetheywereassembled。Hopingtosavehisownhead，theDucd’Orleans，Louis’cousin，votedwiththem。If，onmountingthescaffoldonJanuary21，1793，Louishadhadthatvisionofthefuturewhichweattributetothegods，hewouldhaveseenfollowinghim，onebyone，thegreaternumberoftheGirondistswhoseweaknesshadbeenunabletodefendhim。