Storming of the Bastille

• A large crowd gathered outside the Bastille prison in Paris.
• The crowd demanded the surrender of the fortress and its weapons.
• The governor of the Bastille, Bernard-René de Launay, refused to surrender.
• Negotiations between the crowd and de Launay broke down.
• The crowd stormed the Bastille after several hours of confrontation.
• The governor was captured and killed by the crowd.
• The fall of the Bastille became a symbol of the French Revolution.

The Storming of the Bastille occurred on 14 July 1789 in Paris, marking a significant event in the early stages of the French Revolution. The Bastille, a medieval fortress, had come to symbolize the arbitrary power of the Bourbon monarchy due to its use as a state prison. On the morning of the 14th, rumors of an impending military crackdown on revolutionary movements fueled unrest among Parisians.

A large crowd, consisting primarily of craftsmen and merchants, marched towards the Bastille with the intention of seizing the gunpowder and weapons stored within. Governor Bernard-René de Launay, who was in charge of the Bastille, attempted to negotiate with the crowd. However, the tension escalated, and the situation quickly deteriorated amid mutual distrust.

The attackers faced resistance from the Bastille's defenders, who fired upon the crowd. The conflict persisted for several hours, with more Parisians joining the siege as word spread. Eventually, members of the French Guard (a group of soldiers who had defected to the revolutionaries) brought cannons to the scene, intensifying the attack. By late afternoon, the besiegers had breached the outer defenses. Governor de Launay, realizing the futility of further resistance, eventually capitulated.

Upon surrender, Governor de Launay and several of his soldiers were arrested by the crowd. De Launay was later killed by the insurgents. The revolutionaries freed seven prisoners held in the Bastille, although the fortress was under capacity at the time. The storming had resulted in the deaths of around 100 attackers and one defender.

The fall of the Bastille had immediate repercussions throughout France. It illustrated the power of popular action and the vulnerability of the monarchy. King Louis XVI, upon hearing of the fortress’s fall, reportedly asked, “Is it a revolt?” to which the response came: “No, Sire, it is a revolution.” The 14 July consequently became a national day of celebration, and Bastille Day remains a key symbol of French national identity.

The storming of the Bastille is often regarded as a turning point that encouraged widespread rebellion across France, leading to the nationwide insurrection and the eventual abolition of feudal privileges. It underscored the increasing radicalization among the revolutionaries and set the stage for subsequent revolutionary activities.

• The Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 is often celebrated as the symbolic beginning of the French Revolution, yet only seven prisoners were held inside at the time.
• The Bastille was originally constructed in the 14th century as a fortress to defend Paris from the English during the Hundred Years' War and later became a state prison.
• The event was not just a spontaneous uprising; it was preceded by weeks of rising tensions and protests over food shortages and the reckless financial policies of King Louis XVI.
• The fall of the Bastille had far-reaching consequences, leading to the Revolution's radical phase known for the Reign of Terror and the eventual rise of Napoleon Bonaparte.
• The original plan was not to storm the Bastille, but to negotiate for the release of arms reportedly stored inside, highlighting the initial quest for dialogue before rebellion.
• Following the storming, the Bastille was dismantled brick by brick, with many of its stones being sold as souvenirs, a form of recycling the Revolution's spirit.