Ninety Roman Catholic priests who opposed the revolutionary government were executed by drowning in Nantes, France, as the Reign of Terror intensified. This execution was orchestrated by Jean-Baptiste Carrier, a representative of the revolutionary government, who sought to eliminate any opposition from the clergy. The priests had refused to take an oath of loyalty to the state, aligning themselves instead with the traditional Catholic Church, which was at odds with the revolutionary ideals emerging in France.

The drownings were not isolated; they were part of a broader context of civil conflict and revolutionary fervor that marked the period. Carrier employed a boat, reputedly nicknamed 'the revolutionary barge,' to carry out these mass executions. The priests were bundled together and thrown into the Loire River, where they met their end. This brutal method was meant to instill fear in others who might oppose the revolutionary government.

The executions were emblematic of the extreme measures taken during the Reign of Terror when the revolutionaries sought to consolidate power and eliminate threats to their nascent government. The drowning reflects the conflict between revolutionary ideals and religious authority, showcasing how deeply intertwined the sociopolitical atmosphere was with issues of faith and loyalty at that time.