jul 14, 1789 - The storming of the Bastille: 14 Jul 1789
Description:
Bastille is a fortress (built in the 1300’s) to protect Paris during the Hundred Years’ War. Ir was used as a prison in 1700’s by King Louis XVI. The third estate made demands on the king for commoners to have more say in the government. The third estate thought the king was preparing the French army. In order to arm themselves, (first) they took over Hotel de Invalides in Paris where the got muskets but no gunpowder. The Bastille was rumored to have pioneer prisoners, gunpowder, etc that they needed so they stormed it. They demanded that military leader of Bastille (Governor de Launay) surrender the prisoners and give the gunpowder, but he refused. After they broke in and Governor de Launay realized it was hopeless, he gave up the fortress.
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