Adam Nowhere :
On July 14, 1789, Parisian citizens stormed the Bastille, a royal fortress-prison standing at the edge of the faubourg Saint-Antoine.
Earlier that morning, they had seized thousands of weapons from the Invalides, but they still needed gunpowder and ammunition. The Bastille was believed to hold them.
Only seven prisoners were inside, but the fortress symbolized royal authority, arbitrary imprisonment, and the military threat hanging over Paris.
By late afternoon, armed civilians, joined by Gardes françaises, brought cannons against the gate. After hours of gunfire, panic and failed negotiations, the Bastille surrendered.
2026-07-06 12:00:36