Bastille

E17678

The Bastille was a medieval fortress in Paris that became a notorious state prison and a powerful symbol of royal tyranny, whose storming in 1789 marked a key turning point in the French Revolution.

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Statements (50)

Predicate Object
instanceOf fortress
historical monument
state prison
symbol of royal tyranny
architecturalStyle medieval military architecture
associatedWith Ancien Régime
French Revolution
builtBy Hugues Aubriot
commemoratedBy Bastille Day
commemoratedOn 14 July
constructionEnd 1380
constructionStart 1370
controlledBy Kings of France
surface form: King of France
country Kingdom of France
demolished 1789
demolishedBy revolutionary authorities
demolishedDuring French Revolution
demolitionCompleted 1790
event Storming of the Bastille
garrisonRole defense of eastern Paris
hasMoat yes
height approximately 24 meters
laterFunction royal armoury
state prison
length approximately 66 meters
locatedIn 4th arrondissement of Paris
Faubourg Saint-Antoine
France
Paris
materialUsed stone
memorial Colonne de Juillet
notableFor harbouring political prisoners
storming on 14 July 1789
symbolizing absolutist royal power
notablePrisoner Marquis de Sade
Nicolas Fouquet
Voltaire
numberOfTowers 8
originalFunction city fortress
defensive gate of Paris
prisonRole detention of political prisoners
detention of writers and intellectuals
shape rectangular fortress
siteNow Place de la Bastille
stormedOn 1789-07-14
symbolOf arbitrary royal justice
fall of absolutism in France
oppression
usedBy Ancien Régime
surface form: French monarchy
width approximately 34 meters

Referenced by (9)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.