PLAIN, THE

French La Plaine, in the French Revolution, the deputies of the centre in the National Convention who were the numerical majority. At first, such Plain leaders as Abb Sieys and Bertrand Barre backed the moderate Girondins but later gradually turned to the more radical Montagnards, joining the regicides in casting many votes for the execution of Louis XVI in January 1793. Both sides thus courted the favour of The Plain, whose majority support was essential. In July 1794 their numbers succeeded in helping to overthrow Robespierre and other extreme Jacobins. In November 1799, Sieys was a leader in the coup that overthrew the Directory and brought Napoleon Bonaparte to power.