THE Bastille fall or Bastille Takeover it was the overthrow of the Bastille prison-fortress, by the people of Paris, on July 14, 1789.
This prison symbolized the absolutism and arbitrariness of French justice. His fall became a milestone for the French revolutionary process.
The date of July 14th is celebrated as a national holiday in France.
Causes of the Fall of the Bastille
The causes that led to the fall of the Bastille have socioeconomic roots.
The Third Estate (composed of the bourgeoisie and the people in general) was marginalized. Despite holding economic power, they did not have the equivalent political representation compared to the First State (Clergy) and the Second State (Nobility). The latter two had multiple privileges, such as multiple tax breaks.
In addition, France faced economic problems aggravated by French participation in the war of United States Independence. Add to that certain unpopular measures, such as raising the price of bread.
This generated a chain reaction throughout France, giving rise to an organized and armed popular movement, composed of the urban popular strata.
Also in the countryside there was a large group of discontented people who were characterized by revolutionary radicalization. All this led the population of Paris to revolt and invade the Bastille.
Bastille Characteristics
The Bastille was a rectangular fortress 90 meters long and 25 meters wide, with eight towers distributed along the walls. These reached 3 meters thick by 30 meters high.
There were still two drawbridges, surrounded by a deep moat and covered by the waters of the River Seine, which gave access to a pair of towers that guarded the eastern entrance to the city of Paris.
Internally, the Bastille consisted of three floors and a dungeon. On the upper floor, there were cells for the detainees and, on the ground floor, the common prison was located. In the basement, were the cells with space just to stand.
Historical Context of the Taking of the Bastille
Origin of the Bastille
The Bastion of Saint-Antoine, later called the Bastille, was built in the context of Hundred Years War, by the monarch Charles V of France, in 1370. This medieval fortress was supposed to defend the entrance to the Santo Antônio de Paris district.
In the 15th century, the Bastille was turned into a prison and, in the 17th century, it was the destination of intellectuals and nobles who disagreed with the regime or were political opponents.
How was the Taking of the Bastille?
Therefore, in the 18th century, during the reign of Louis XVI (1754-1793), the agrarian crisis ruined the French economy, affecting mainly the peasants. Faced with this situation, the monarch called the Assembly of the States General to pass laws that could lift the country out of economic stagnation.
As a reaction, the bourgeoisie, supported by Enlightenment ideals, pressured the King to admit the creation of a National Constituent Assembly to design a French constitution.
This fact brought Paris to the brink of revolution as Louis XVI assembled his troops to quell the movement. However, journalist Camille Desmoulins (1760-1794) warned the population about the imminent attack, from where the “Paris Militia” emerged, formed mainly by guards, demobilized soldiers and the bourgeoisie.
Thus, they attacked the Hospital dos Invalides, where they looted many weapons and left for the Bastille fortress on July 14, 1789, where gunpowder and weapons were stored. The fortress was defended by 32 Swiss guards, local soldiers and three cannons.
The Marquis de Launay, the prison's director, had no choice but to negotiate with the movement's leaders. However, a shot fired by fortress officials started the firefight, which lasted a few hours, until Launay surrendered.
Consequently, he was captured and his head cut off and exposed. In total, one guard and less than a hundred revolutionaries died in the confrontation.
Following the attack, the Bastille was burned into ruins and, a few months later, was completely demolished.
Consequences of the Fall of the Bastille
With the fall of this prison, the changes that were taking place were precipitated. The bourgeoisie realized that they had the people in their favor and started to use this support. Part of the clergy also joined the Third Estate.
In this way, both States allied on June 20, 1789 and demanded the promulgation of a Constitution. This would limit the power of the King and absolutism would end in France.
After the fall of the Bastille, the Paris Militia got stronger and the population felt strong to make their own demands.
Later, the Revolution would become radicalized and would go through a moment of severe repression known as the Period of Terror.
National Festival of France
July 14 was first celebrated in 1790, just a year after the Fall of the Bastille. On this occasion, the Feast of the Federation was celebrated, which would symbolize the union of the French.
During the Third Republic, in 1880, the 14th of July became a national holiday, at the suggestion of Deputy Benjamin Raspail (1823-1899). So as not to upset Republicans or conservatives, there is no mention of whether they are celebrating the Bastille Fall or the Federation Feast.
On this day, traditionally there is a military parade in Paris and a great fireworks display.
Keep researching on the subject:
- National Constituent Assembly in the French Revolution
- Terror in the French Revolution
- French Republic
