Bastille Day

July 14th, 1789

Parisians storm the Bastille

The year is 1789. France, one of the richest European kingdoms, had become a shadow of its former self. Ruled for more than a century by the Bourbons, the endless military conflicts of the 18th century brought the country on the verge of financial collapsing. From a social point of view, the situation was even worse. The French feudal society had three classes/estates:

• first class was the clergy
• second class was the nobility
• third class was the commoners

While the third represented almost 80% of the French population, it was the most oppressed of all three. While both the clergy and the nobility enjoyed many privileges granted by the French monarchy, the third estate had almost no rights at all. In order to address this growing tensions, King Louis XVI summoned the Estates General, in 1789. This legislative assembly, which was composed of representatives from all three classes, had not been summoned since 1614.

Estates General of 1789

King Louis XVI (1774-1792)

The procedures were quite simple. Each estate had one vote, so in order to pass a law 2 out 3 votes were required. While there were calls for major financial and social reforms, these proposals fell to deaf ears, as both the clergy and the aristocracy refused to support them. As a result, the 3rd estate decided to form its own parliament, the National Assembly. Despite King Louis' attempts to disband it, the 3rd estate remained united, and they were also joined by some of the nobles and the clergy. 

Now, let's talk about Bastille. This fortress was built in the 14th century, during the Hundred Years War, as part of Paris defense system. It became a state prison, in 1417. King Louis XVI used it to jail his major political opponents, and by 1780's, it became a symbol of tyranny and absolutism monarchy in France. But one day was about to change the thread of history forever.

Bastille in 1789

On July 14th, 1789, tens of thousands of Parisians gathered up around the prison. They demanded immediate surrender of the fortress and the release of all prisoners. Now, to be fair, the real reason behind the storming of the fortress was not the one many people believe. The Parisians had previously stormed the Hotel des Invalides, from which they had taken all the weapons gathered there (around 30,000 muskets), but they did not have any gunpowder. It had all been stored in Bastille, so the people marched on the prison. Bernard-René Jourdan de Launay, the governor of Bastille, refused to surrender Bastille to the angry mob. 

Bernard-René Jourdan de Launay, the last governor of Bastille

Storming of the Bastille

Therefore, the mob decided to take Bastille by force, and they succeeded, without much opposition. They took all the gunpowder, along with four canons, and they also released the prisoners, seven in total. As for monsieur Bernard, well, he was killed by the mob.

Militia hoisting the head of Bernard Rene on a pike. 

Bastille was demolished shortly after that. Today, the Place of Bastille replace the old prison. There is no vestige of the old fortress left, but even so, the memory of this event will remain in history forever, not just for France but for all societies fight for freedom against tyranny.