Bio

Louis Michel Rieul Billon, also known as Rieul‑Michel Billon, was born on 7 September 1750 in Senlis, in the Oise region of France. He was a watchmaker by profession and was known locally under the name “Billon the watchmaker.” He was a member of the Company of the Knights of the Arquebus, a civic militia organization that existed prior to its integration into the National Guard in 1790.

According to historical accounts, Billon was allegedly excluded from this company before its formal integration into the National Guard. The reasons cited involved wear and tear, though no further details are provided in the source material regarding the circumstances or timing of his exclusion.

No additional verified information is available regarding his family background, education, or professional standing beyond his trade as a watchmaker and his involvement in local militia structures in Senlis during the early stages of the French Revolution.

Murder Story

In 1789, during the early revolutionary period in France, Louis Michel Rieul Billon was responsible for what became known as the Senlis massacre. The incident occurred during a public flag‑blessing parade involving members of the National Guard. During the event, Billon opened fire on the National Guard, killing several individuals, including the unit’s commander.

The attack escalated into a mass‑casualty event when an explosion occurred at Billon’s residence. According to historical accounts, the explosion was deliberately caused during the course of his arrest. The blast resulted in extensive casualties, killing a total of 26 people and wounding 42 others. One of the wounded later died as a result of injuries sustained during the explosion.

Most of the victims were military personnel, and historical analyses note that many were not directly involved in the events that preceded Billon’s actions. The violence of the attack, the use of firearms and explosives, and the resulting shock and terror among survivors led later historians to identify the Senlis explosion as an early example of a mass political attack.

Following the explosion, Billon was captured by a crowd and died by lynching. He died in Senlis on 13 December 1789. His actions and the scale of the violence remained notable in historical studies, with later scholars identifying the event as one of the earliest mass‑casualty attacks of its kind in European history.