The Reign of Terror was a period during the French Revolution from September 1793 to July 1794, marked by extreme political violence. It was led by the Committee of Public Safety, which aimed to eliminate perceived enemies of the revolution. Thousands were executed, often by guillotine, including prominent figures like Georges Danton and Marie Antoinette. The atmosphere of fear was fueled by revolutionary leaders such as Maximilien Robespierre, who believed that terror was necessary to protect the revolution. The period ended with Robespierre's arrest and execution, leading to a more moderate phase in the revolution known as the Thermidorian Reaction.