French history in the English-speaking theatre of France (1494–1547). Sarah Pogson Smith wrote another play on Charlotte Corday's murder of Jean-Paul Marat (1793) during the Reign of Terror, entitled "The Female Enthusiast" (1807). Dion Boucicault wrote "Louis XI" (1855), an adaptation of a French play of the same title (1832) by Casimir Delavigne, based on events during the reign of Louis XI of France (1461–1483). Edward Bulwer-Lytton wrote "Richelieu" (1839) based on the cardinal of the same name who dominated political events during the reign of Louis XIII of France (1601–1643). Harry Forrest and Paolo Giacometti wrote "Marie Antoinette"(1890), based on the life of Marie Antoinette.
Reign of Terror terror: Some historians argue that such terror was a necessary reaction to the circumstances. Others suggest there were additional causes, including ideological and emotional. Enlightenment thought emphasized the importance of rational thinking and began challenging legal and moral foundations of society, providing the leaders of the Terror with new ideas about the role and structure of government. Rousseau's Social Contract argued that each person was born with rights, and they would come together to form a government that would then protect those rights. Under the social contract, the government was required to act for the general will, which represented the