How did the conflict between the Girondins and Montagnards affect Maximilien Robespierre’s rise?

The conflict between the Girondins and the Montagnards was a pivotal factor in Maximilien Robespierre’s rise to power within the National Convention.

From the Convention's inception, the moderate Girondins—who favored a bourgeois republic and opposed the centralization of power in Paris—viewed Robespierre as a dangerous aspiring dictator. This antagonism intensified during the trial of Louis XVI, where Robespierre’s vocal advocacy for the king's execution helped consolidate his influence among the radical deputies.123

As the Girondins struggled to manage the war effort and address the economic grievances of the Parisian sansculottes, their popularity waned. Robespierre and the Montagnards exploited this instability by aligning themselves with the radical Parisian populace. On May 26, 1793, Robespierre called for an insurrection, which led to the purge of 29 Girondin leaders from the Convention in early June. This victory effectively removed his primary political rivals, allowing the Montagnards to dominate the Committee of Public Safety and establish the revolutionary dictatorship that defined the Reign of Terror.34152