Thomas de Mahy, Marquis de Favras (1744–90) occupies a unique place in the history of early French revolutionary justice. For surprising as it may seem considering the degree of vindictive emotion aroused from the very beginning, this obscure ex-military officer and adventurer who “had more titles than assets” was the only counter-revolutionary conspirator legally executed until after the fall of the Monarchy, “the only individual,” as Lafayette put it, “who, amongst so many parties, conspiracies, and intrigues, was made to pay the supreme penalty for crimes against the state during the first three years of the French Revolution.”

Yet, though the final outcome of the Favras case was very different from that of all the other major cases of 1789–90, the manner in which it was handled was quite similar. The exercise of restraint in the prosecution of political opponents, the absence of investigatory rigor, the tendency towards pragmatic and secret judicial arrangements, and the promotion of conciliation and forgiveness: all these previously encountered themes will remain prominently featured in our account of the Favras affair.

In addition, our account of this affair will demonstrate how the Favras case became deeply intertwined with the as yet unresolved Besenval case and how Favras' execution served, in effect, as Besenval's ticket to freedom.