Bastille Day

For the French, Bastille Day marks the fall of a dark and corrupted monarchy. One of the Bastille day facts remains that Bastille was a fortress used by the Bourbon monarchy under King Louis XVI as a state prison. However, the ruler abused his power and imprisoned citizens and authorities with political power during the 17^th and 18^th centuries. The prison became a symbol of the harsh ruling, and by the end of the 18^th century, commoners took matters into their own hands. Hence, calling it Bastille Day, marking the start of the great French Revolution and opening the world to why is bastille day celebrated. 

However, bastille day in French is called la Fete Nationale or Fete Nationale, which translates to France’s National Holiday. A day that symbolises the bastille day attack and the chapter to a new revolution in French and world history.

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A Factual Account of Bastille 

A summary of bastille day is not near enough for one to understand its historical significance. Hence, we sum up bastille day history and Bastille day facts in points from the time of its occurrence to today. 

• Bastille was built as a fort to prevent invaders from bordering regions from entering. The fort started its construction in the year 1357, and it was only until the 17^th century that, under the rule of the Bourbon, changed to become a corrupted prison. 

• Since Bastille was a fort meant to protect the people of France during the worst times of war, it was filled with gunpowder and tons of ammunition. 

• History has many accounts of the number of prisoners released on bastille day. However, it is known that during such a chaotic and intense battle, only a handful of prisoners were freed. When citizens fought against the monarch by attacking Bastille, only seven prisoners were found and released. However, the crimes, as well as the identities of the seven, remain unfactual to date.

• The famous book known to the world as “One Hundred and Twenty Days of Sodom” was written by one of the prisoners named Marquis de Sade. He was a well-known aristocrat who got transferred to Bastille and spent five years behind bars. But the tragedy of it is, he never got to see the day Bastille was stripped of its prison stature. Instead, because of conspiracies within the prison, he got transferred to another prison outside of Paris just ten days before July 14, 1789.

• It is only the world that knows of the revolutionary day as bastille day. The French pride it “la Fete Nationale”, which denotes “National Holiday”. You may also come across another term, “le Quatorze Juillet”, which is “14 July” and is used in a relatively informal setting. 

• Thomas Jefferson was also seen to be in the side of the picture during the Bastille victory. He commemorated the event by financially supporting widows of the civilians killed during the bastille day attack. 

• Bastille Day started as a celebration the following year in France. July 14, 1790, marked the first anniversary where the French stood together to remember and celebrate their liberation. The festival was huge and continues to be a big celebration every year on July 14. 

• A fun fact is after the bastille day attack; there was a lot of confusion on when to mark the National Day for France. There was a lot of deliberation surrounding the date. In the end, July 14 remained and became the day that was known as Bastille. 

• Europe is a vast continent, and western Europe is home to millions. Bastille Day is by far the biggest celebration in the entire western region. Military parades were part and parcel of the day till 1917. After that, Champs-Elysees is the famous spot for the procession to take place. 

There are many more facts to the historical Bastille. But these answers why bastille day is celebrated. Accounts of the event have numerous details about what happened. 

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Bastille Day in 21st Century France

Since the first celebration marking the fall of the Bourbon monarch, Bastille Day has been commemorated every year for centuries. What remains part and parcel of the celebration today is the peaceful military parade in Champ-Elysees. The same is followed by a display of fireworks all over Paris. Over the years, Bastille Day has been highlighted with soldiers from Germany, India, the European Union, African countries and more taking an active part in the parade in different years. 

Though in terms of activities, there have been changes since the first anniversary of Bastille, the French celebrate the day in their way. It isn’t a day to get into the politics of what happened but to enjoy their National day with their families, friends and close ones.

All in all, it is the coming together of the people of France in peace. 

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