The guillotine was significant during the French Revolution as it symbolized the radical shifts in political and social norms regarding justice and execution. Employed as a method of execution, it was intended to be a humane and egalitarian means of carrying out capital punishment. The guillotine became emblematic of the Reign of Terror (1793-1794), during which thousands were executed, including King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. It represented the revolutionary principles of liberty and equality, yet also highlighted the era's violence and turmoil. The guillotine remains a powerful symbol of the excesses of the revolution and its impact on French history.