How did Montesquieu influence the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen?

The French political philosopher Montesquieu exerted a profound influence on the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, serving as one of the primary intellectual sources for the authors of the 1789 document.12

His most significant contribution was the theory of the separation of powers, which he famously articulated in his masterpiece, The Spirit of Laws. Montesquieu argued that to effectively protect individual liberties, the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of a state must be held by independent bodies rather than concentrated in a single authority. This principle was central to the revolutionary effort to dismantle the absolute power of the monarchical regime and prevent the arbitrary abuses of authority that characterized the old system.231

During the early phase of the French Revolution, Montesquieu was cited more frequently than any other authority. His ideas provided a framework for the new political order, helping to shape the Declaration's emphasis on equality before the law and the protection of citizens against arbitrary judicial or police actions.31