page_title: Bastille
section_title: Storming the Bastille
hierarchical_section_title: Bastille / Storming the Bastille
caption_attribution_description: Беларуская: "Узяцце Бастыліі", Бернар Журдан,акварэль English: "The Storming of the Bastille", Visible in the center is the arrest of Bernard René Jourdan, m de Launay (1740-1789). Español: "Toma de la Bastilla", En el centro se apreciaba el arresto del marqués de Launay. Français&#160;: "La prise de la Bastille". Au centre, on peut voir l'arrestation du gouverneur de la Bastille, Bernard René Jourdan, marquis de Launay (1740-1789). Português: A "Tomada da Bastilha", no centro se vê a prisão de Jourdan de René de Bernard, marquês de Launay (1740-1789). Català: "Presa de la Bastilla". Al centre es veu l'arrest del marquès de Launay.
context_page_description: The Bastille was a prison in Paris, France. It was destroyed during the French Revolution on 14 July 1789. It was attacked by rebels from the "third estate". This event is considered the beginning of the French Revolution. Today in France, the 14 July, Fête Nationale, or Bastille Day, is a national holiday.
context_section_description: As a prison, the Bastille held common criminals such as forgers and thieves, as well as people put in prison for religious reasons, such as the Huguenots. There were also people who had for printed or written things against the government or the King. People of high rank were sometimes held there too. The prison, which could only hold about 50 prisoners, was not as bad most of the prisons in Paris. But secrecy about the prison and its prisoners gave it an evil reputation.
  The people of Paris attacked the Bastille on 14 July 1789, following several days of protests. They were after the gunpowder and weapons that were kept at the prison. They were not attacking the Bastille to free the seven prisoners inside. The prison was guarded by about 80 invalides (old soldiers) led by Governor Bernard-René de Launay. There was also an extra group of 32 grenadiers from one of the Swiss mercenary regiments brought to Paris by the King shortly before 14 July.
  A crowd of around 8,000 men and women were outside the Bastille by mid-morning. They wanted the guards to give up the prison, remove the artillery guns, and give them the gunpowder and weapons. Two people chosen to represent those outside were invited into the fortress to talk with the Governor.
  At about 1:00pm, the crowd broke into the undefended outer courtyard and the chains on the drawbridge to the inner courtyard were cut. There was some gunfire, but by mid-afternoon the crowd was supported by mutinous Gardes Françaises of the Royal Army and two cannons. De Launay ordered his guards to stop shooting and he gave up the fortress. The crowd swept into the Bastille at about 5.30pm.
  The crowd took the weapons, gunpowder, and freed the seven prisoners. They had to break down the doors because the keys had already been taken and shown in the streets. Even though they had surrendered, the Governor and some of the guards of the Bastille were killed. Their heads were cut off, stuck onto long poles, and marched through the streets.
caption: Prise de la Bastille, by Jean-Pierre-Louis-Laurent Houel.
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