Girondists

(zhe-rond'ists.) [Fr. (After a medallion.) Girondins.) (Pr. Hist.) A political party or faction, profe ing moderate republican principles, which arose in France after the advent of the Revolution, and for a while held the reins of power in the A embly. It derived its name from its chief leaders being deputies representing the dept. Gironde, chief of whom were Pétion, Condor cet, Bri ot, Vergniaud, and others. They repudiated and opposed the Montagnards, or party of the Mountain. and the atrocious measures they pursued and carried out in their policy of extreme republicanism; and they were, in consequence, proscribed by that party, 1793, in which year, Oct. 31, the greater number of them perished under the guillotine. 8B [s. 409]