The Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789: A Pivotal Moment in the French Revolution

On July 14, 1789, a crowd of approximately 1,000 Parisians, primarily artisans, shopkeepers, and deserters, stormed the Bastille fortress. This event marked a decisive rupture with France's Ancien Régime. The attack was driven by severe bread shortages, soaring prices, and the need for weapons to defend the newly formed National Assembly against King Louis XVI's troops. The Bastille, commanded by Governor Bernard-René Jourdan, Marquis de Launay, was defended by only 82 veterans and 32 Swiss mercenaries, despite housing 30 cannons and significant gunpowder stores. After four hours of fighting, the fortress fell, resulting in 98 attacker casualties and about nine defender losses. De Launay and Parisian official Jacques de Flesselles were subsequently beheaded. The fall prompted King Louis XVI to withdraw troops from Paris, fearing further desertions. Demolition of the Bastille began immediately, overseen by contractor Pierre-François Palloy, who turned the site into revolutionary propaganda, charging admission and distributing relics across France. News spread rapidly, with mixed reactions: Thomas Jefferson expressed support, while the Dutch Gazette de Leyde warned of the dangers of mob rule. Historians like Frank Jacob consider the storming a "point of no return" in the revolutionary process, transforming it into a mythical national symbol.