On Bastille Day, July 14, 1789, a total of 107 people died during and immediately following the storming of the Bastille.
Casualties of the Storming of the Bastille
The capture of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, marked a pivotal moment in the French Revolution. While often romanticized as a bloodless victory for the revolutionaries, the event resulted in significant casualties among both the attackers and the defenders of the fortress. The deaths occurred during the direct conflict and in the immediate aftermath, as the victors dealt with the captured individuals.
Deaths During the Conflict
During the direct assault on the Bastille, the majority of the casualties were among the attackers. The defenders also suffered losses:
- 98 attackers perished during the conflict.
- 1 invalide (a soldier in the Hôtel des Invalides, part of the Bastille's garrison) died during the confrontation.
Deaths After the Battle
Once the Bastille had fallen, several more individuals were killed by the victorious revolutionaries in acts of retribution and summary justice:
- 3 more invalides were lynched by the victors.
- 2 members of the Swiss Guard (another part of the Bastille's garrison) were also lynched.
- 3 of Governor de Launay's officers were killed, including the governor himself (though the reference only mentions "de Launay's three officers" without explicitly stating de Launay was one of them, historical accounts confirm he was killed).
Summary of Fatalities
The breakdown of deaths on Bastille Day 1789 is as follows:
| Group | Number of Deaths |
|---|---|
| Attackers | 98 |
| Invalides (in conflict) | 1 |
| Invalides (lynched) | 3 |
| Swiss Guard (lynched) | 2 |
| De Launay's Officers | 3 |
| Total Casualties | 107 |
Significance of Bastille Day
The storming of the Bastille, despite the relatively small number of direct combatants and casualties compared to later revolutionary conflicts, was profoundly symbolic. It represented the collapse of royal authority and the triumph of the common people against the monarchy's oppressive regime. This event is widely considered the start of the French Revolution and is celebrated annually as France's national holiday.
For more in-depth information on this historic event, you can refer to resources like Britannica's article on the Storming of the Bastille.
