Storming of the Bastille

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The Storming of the Bastille was a pivotal event on July 14, 1789, when Parisian revolutionaries seized a royal fortress-prison, marking the symbolic beginning of the French Revolution.


Statements (55)
Predicate Object
instanceOf event of the French Revolution
historical event
revolutionary uprising
commandedBy Bernard-René de Launay
commemoratedAs Bastille Day
commemoratedIn France
commemoratedOn July 14
country Kingdom of France
date 1789-07-14
day 14
followedBy Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
Great Fear
abolition of feudal privileges on 4 August 1789
hadApproximateCasualties about 1 defender killed before the assault
about 100 attackers killed or wounded
several defenders killed after the surrender
hasCause dismissal of Jacques Necker
economic hardship and food shortages
fear of royal military repression
political crisis between monarchy and Estates-General
widespread popular unrest in Paris
involved demolition of the Bastille fortress after its capture
seizure of gunpowder and arms
legacy central myth of the French republican tradition
frequent subject of paintings and engravings
inspiration for revolutionary movements worldwide
mainParticipants National Guardsmen
Parisian revolutionaries
citizens of Paris
month July
opposingParticipants Swiss mercenaries
royal garrison of the Bastille
partOf French Revolution
place Paris
precededBy storming of the Hôtel des Invalides
recognizedAs French national holiday
result capture of the Bastille fortress
collapse of royal authority in Paris
formation of a revolutionary municipal government in Paris
strengthening of the National Assembly
surrender of the royal garrison
symbolic victory for the revolutionaries
resultedIn execution of Bernard-René de Launay
lynching of several royal officials
widespread emigration of nobles
significance end of the absolute authority symbolized by the Bastille
iconic symbol of popular sovereignty
symbolic beginning of the French Revolution
turning point in the crisis of 1789
symbolizes fall of royal despotism
power of the people of Paris
tookPlaceAt Bastille Saint-Antoine
tookPlaceIn Faubourg Saint-Antoine
tookPlaceOn Île-de-France
year 1789


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