#1700s is probably the century I'm least interested in generally speaking so my knowledge on it is very basic

[canisalbus]

It may have been unintentional of your part, but Manchete's demeanour remind me how it is most likely that Maximilien de Robespierre's personality was. He, too, was a highly controversial figure that oversaw executions that stemmed mostly from his paranoia and fear, his bloodthirst causing a period known as The Reign of Terror to overcome France, all the while accounts from those who were close to him at the time stated that he was softspoken and cowardly. Due to that, I was wondering: was Robespierre an inspiration for Manchete or are those parallels a complete coincidence?

That's very interesting actually! I know of Robespierre and that he was a leading figure in the French Revolution, but I've never bothered looking into his personal biography properly. I did a quick superficial wikipedia check and it looks like you might be right, they do seem to have more than a few uncanny similarities. I'm cherrypicking a little of course but there's significant academic success and good conduct, being described as nervous, timid and suspicious, always well groomed, very driven and hardworking, but moody and frequently ill. And most of all probably starting with very good, righteous and idealistic intentions but escalating into senseless violence and tyranny over time. Both saw conspiracies left and right and dealt with repeated assassination attempts and public scapegoating towards the end. Both dug their own graves, that's for sure.