Have you ever heard of the Bastille? The Bastille is one of the world’s best symbols of order and chaos.

The Bastille had many rumors and stories. You may be wondering what stories or rumors there were? Well, for starters a rumor spread that there were tons of prisoners. It was said to have dungeons where tortures happened on the prisoners beyond unimaginable and unspeakable ways, and it was said that it was used to test weapons on the prisoners. But the truth was that most of these rumors weren’t truths. At best there were only some partial truths.

The Bastille was built during the 14th century. It had many different purposes including being a fortress against the English soldiers who moved to try and take over Paris during the 100 years war. The building had 5-foot thick walls, drawbridges, a moat, and 8 towers. It was mostly used as a prison of different types. Louis XIV used the Bastille as a prison for upper-class prisoners in the 1400’s. Other Kings used the Bastille to imprison other threats to their rule. Over the years, it was known as a symbol of the government’s tyrany.

In addition to being a prison, the Bastille served other purposes, but most people did not like it other uses and often feared that it could be used against them.  This was especially true during the start of the French Revolutionary War.  During this time, the Bastille was used to store gunpowder. However, the rumors said that tons of prisoners were being held here by the King. This was not true; there were only 7 prisoners (4 of who were insane).  The Bastille did have 114 soldiers and guards that were mostly used to protect the weapons (including gunpowder, guns, and cannons) and the building itself.

Now you might be thinking in your head, “Why should I give a fig about the Bastille?” Well, here’s why. The Bastille showed the first and most famous show of violence in the French revolution. The common people of the 3rd Estate knew it as the symbol of tyranny, and wanted to take it from the King’s control.  Rioters had grown in large numbers due to lack of food and poor conditions. They learned that the gunpowder (I mentioned it earlier) that was being stored inside the Bastille. They were convinced that the King was going to use the Bastille as a way to get rid of the riots and mobs. The people could see cannons in the windows pointing at the town and thought that this was going to be used against them. The rioters ordered the governor of the Bastille, Launay, to take the cannons out of the windows and give them control of the Bastille. Launay took the cannons away, but he refused to give up the Bastille.

Now you might have noticed I said that the Bastille HAD several drawbridges or HAD 8 stone towers. Well I use had the thence because the Bastille was destroyed. Now in your head you might be thinking, “How the heck was it destroyed?” On July 14th , 1789 a mob broke into the Bastille. They set the 7 captives free, and took the guards as prisoners. The mob grabbed the Governor Launay and one other defender. They killed the two men and their heads were cut off and paraded around town on a giant stick.

The people hated the Bastille so much that they burnt it down and after that they tore it down brick by brick. After they tore it down they sold the bricks as souvenirs. In one day, the Bastille went from tyranny and control to the chaos of an out of control mob.