In short
On July 14, 1789, Parisians stormed the Bastille, a medieval fortress used as a state prison, in an act of political defiance against royal authority. The assault lasted four hours, resulted in 94 deaths, and became the symbolic opening move of the French Revolution. The event marked the moment when revolutionary sentiment shifted from debate to armed action.
How it unfolded.
The five-minute version
What actually happened.
The Storming of the Bastille, which occurred in Paris, France, on 14 July 1789, was an act of political violence by revolutionary insurgents who attempted to storm and seize control of the medieval armoury, fortress, and political prison known as the Bastille. After four hours of fighting and 94 deaths, the insurgents were able to enter the Bastille. The governor of the Bastille, Bernard-René Jourdan de Launay, and several members of the garrison were killed after surrendering. At the time, the Bastille represented royal authority in the centre of Paris. The prison contained only seven inmates at the time of its storming and was already scheduled for demolition but was seen by the revolutionaries as a symbol of the monarchy's abuse of power. Its fall was the flashpoint of the French Revolution.
As it was happening
13 voices, 46 days.
One beat at a time. Click any dot on the timeline to jump, press play for autoplay, or use the arrow keys to step.
Louis XVI dismisses Necker
Finance Minister Jacques Necker, seen as sympathetic to reform, is dismissed by King Louis XVI. The move triggers unrest in Paris and accelerates revolutionary sentiment.
Voices from this moment (1)
Louis XVI dismisses Necker
Jul 11
“Finance Minister Jacques Necker, seen as sympathetic to…”
As it was happening
13 voices, 46 days.
Day 0 · July 11, 1789
Louis XVI dismisses Necker
Finance Minister Jacques Necker, seen as sympathetic to reform, is dismissed by King Louis XVI. The move triggers unrest in Paris and accelerates revolutionary sentiment.
“Finance Minister Jacques Necker, seen as sympathetic to…”
- Louis XVI dismisses Necker, Jul 11
Day 1 · July 12, 1789
Camille Desmoulins rallies the crowds
Orator Camille Desmoulins addresses a crowd at the Palais-Royal, calling for armed resistance. An estimated 12,000-15,000 listen and begin organizing.
“Orator Camille Desmoulins addresses a crowd at the…”
- Camille Desmoulins rallies the crowds, Jul 12
Day 2 · July 13, 1789
Arms and ammunition seized
Insurgents storm the Invalides hospital complex and requisition 32,000 rifles and ammunition stores. No organized military resistance materializes.
“Insurgents storm the Invalides hospital complex and…”
- Arms and ammunition seized, Jul 13
Day 3 · July 14, 1789
Siege begins at dawn
Around 8 a.m., a crowd of several thousand marches on the Bastille fortress. Governor de Launay initially negotiates but tensions escalate rapidly.
Day 3 · July 14, 1789
Courtyard breached; de Launay killed
At approximately 5:30 p.m., the outer courtyard is overrun. Governor de Launay is captured and executed. The fortress surrenders within minutes.
“At approximately 5:30 p.”
- Courtyard breached; de Launay killed, Jul 14
“Around 8 a.”
- Siege begins at dawn, Jul 14
Day 4 · July 15, 1789
Louis XVI capitulates
The King recalls Necker to his position and withdraws royal troops from Paris. The National Guard is formally established under Lafayette's command.
“Événements Tumultueux à Paris - La Bastille Prise par la…”
- Gazette de France, Jul 15
“The King recalls Necker to his position and withdraws royal…”
- Louis XVI capitulates, Jul 15
Day 6 · July 17, 1789
Louis visits Paris; cockade adopted
Louis XVI enters Paris and accepts the tricolor cockade (red, white, and blue), symbolizing royal acceptance of revolutionary authority.
“La Révolution à Paris - Destruction de la Bastille par le…”
- Moniteur Universel, Jul 17
“Insurrection in Paris - The Bastille Surrendered to the Mob”
- Morning Chronicle, Jul 20
“Tumult in Paris - Die Erstürmung der Bastille”
- Wiener Zeitung, Aug 1
“Louis XVI enters Paris and accepts the tricolor cockade…”
- Louis visits Paris; cockade adopted, Jul 17
Day 24 · August 4, 1789
Feudalism abolished by decree
The National Assembly votes to formally abolish feudal privileges in a night session. Land reform and peasant rights become law.
“The National Assembly votes to formally abolish feudal…”
- Feudalism abolished by decree, Aug 4
Day 46 · August 26, 1789
Declaration of Rights of Man adopted
The National Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, establishing principles of liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty.
“The National Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights…”
- Declaration of Rights of Man adopted, Aug 26
The numbers.
5 numbers that anchor the scale.
By the numbers
The countable parts.
Date
0 July 1789
Confirmed deaths
0 (estimates vary; 83-98 commonly cited)
Prison population stormed
0 inmates (all subsequently released)
Estimated crowd size
0+ insurgents and supporters
Year Bastille was constructed
0 (completed 1382)
Front pages.
3 outlets carried the story: Gazette de France, Morning Chronicle, Moniteur Universel.
Media coverage
What the world was reading.
4 pieces, ranked by how much they shaped the discourse.
Moniteur Universel
Newspaper · France · Jul 17, 1789
"La Révolution à Paris - Destruction de la Bastille par le Peuple"
FR: 'Le peuple a pris les armes et s'est emparé de la Bastille, mettant fin à plus de trois siècles de tyrannie.' / EN: 'The people took up arms and seized the Bastille, ending more than three centuries of tyranny.' Synthesized from period reporting - Early revolutionary accounts frame the storming as a triumph of popular sovereignty over autocratic rule.
- Jul 15, 1789
Gazette de France
Newspaper · France
"Événements Tumultueux à Paris - La Bastille Prise par la Multitude"
FR: 'La forteresse de la Bastille, symbole du despotisme royal, a été emportée d'assaut par les insurgés parisiens.' / EN: 'The fortress of the Bastille, symbol of royal despotism, has been stormed by Parisian insurgents.' Synthesized from period reporting - Official gazette accounts describe four hours of violent combat and the liberation of seven prisoners.
- Jul 20, 1789
Morning Chronicle
Newspaper · United Kingdom
"Insurrection in Paris - The Bastille Surrendered to the Mob"
Synthesized from period reporting - The fortress has fallen after desperate resistance, with nearly a hundred lives lost in the struggle. This violent seizure of the royal stronghold marks an unprecedented act of popular revolt against the French crown.
- Aug 1, 1789
Wiener Zeitung
Newspaper · Austria
"Tumult in Paris - Die Erstürmung der Bastille"
DE: 'Die Festung wurde nach heftigem Kampf von aufständischen Parisern erobert.' / EN: 'The fortress was captured by rebelling Parisians after fierce combat.' Synthesized from period reporting - Vienna's press reports the dramatic fall of the medieval fortress with cautious concern for European stability.
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Sources & citations.
Sources
Where this came from.
Every claim on this page traces to a public, license-clean source. We don't asterisk well.
Wikipedia
1 source- 1.Fall of the Bastille
en.wikipedia.org