Thermidor () was the eleventh month in the French Republican calendar. The month was named after the French language word thermal, derived from the Greek language word thermos 'heat'.
Thermidor was the second month of the summer quarter ( mois d'été). It started July 19 or 20. It ended August 17 or 18. It follows Messidor and precedes Fructidor. During Year 2, it was sometimes called Fervidor.
Because of the Thermidorian Reaction—9 Thermidor Year II—the overthrow of revolutionary radical Maximilien Robespierre and his followers in that month, the word "Thermidor" has come to mean a retreat from more radical goals and strategies during a revolution, especially when caused by a replacement of leading personalities.
1re Décade | 2e Décade | 3e Décade | |||||
Primidi | 1. | Epeautre ([[Spelt]]) | 11. | Eryngium]]) | 21. | Carlina acaulis]]) | |
Duodi | 2. | Verbascum]]) | 12. | Salicor ([[Glasswort]]) | 22. | Caprier ([[Caper]]) | |
Tridi | 3. | Melon ([[Melon]]) | 13. | Abricot ([[Apricot]]) | 23. | Lentille ([[Lentil]]) | |
Quartidi | 4. | Lolium]]) | 14. | Basilic ([[Basil]]) | 24. | Aunée ([[Elecampane]]) | |
Quintidi | 5. | Sheep]]) | 15. | Sheep]]) | 25. | Loutre ([[Otter]]) | |
Sextidi | 6. | Equisetum]]) | 16. | Guimauve (Marsh Mallow) | 26. | Myrtus]]) | |
Septidi | 7. | Armoise ([[Mugwort]]) | 17. | Lin ([[Flax]]) | 27. | Colza ([[Rapeseed]]) | |
Octidi | 8. | Carthame ([[Safflower]]) | 18. | Amande ([[Almond]]) | 28. | Lupinus]]) | |
Nonidi | 9. | Mûre (Blackberry) | 19. | Gentiana]]) | 29. | Gossypium]]) | |
Decadi | 10. | Watering can]]) | 20. | Écluse (Lock) | 30. | Gristmill]]) |
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I. | II. | III. | IV. | V. | VI. | VII. |
July | 1793 | 1794 | 1795 | 1796 | 1797 | 1798 | 1799 | August |
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VIII. | IX. | X. | XI. | XII. | XIII. |
July | 1800 | 1801 | 1802 | 1803 | 1804 | 1805 | August |
Consequently, for historians of revolutionary movements, the term Thermidor has come to mean the phase in some revolutions when the political pendulum swings back towards something resembling a pre-revolutionary state, and power slips from the hands of the original revolutionary leadership. Leon Trotsky, in his book The Revolution Betrayed, refers to the rise of Joseph Stalin and the accompanying post-revolutionary bureaucracy as the "Soviet Thermidor".
Thermidor is the name of a story revolving around the end of the French Revolution in Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, issue #29.
There is a song recorded by J-pop artist Nana Mizuki by the name of "Thermidor". Its lyrics talk about a person in love that is also rethinking their personal feelings after realizing that the person they love has changed, and so has the person. Its lyrics mimic the modern definition of Thermidor.
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