by Sandy Winn

Created on: June 24, 2008   Last Updated: July 18, 2008

Bastille Day is important in French history because it marked the beginning of the French Revolution on July 14, 1789. However, first it should be noted that it is not the official name of France's National Holiday. Fete de la federation was the name of the occasion that brought together thousands of people from all over France on July 14, 1790. It marks the day when citizens and officials alike declared a national oneness and although they were not yet an official republic, it was known as the "birth of a Republic." It was that date the French Government of 1880 wanted to be remembered. The storming of Bastille, in their minds, was considered too brutal for national celebration[1]; instead they focused on the unity that took place in 1790. France's official holiday was entitled, "Fete Nationale le juillet 14", on July 6, 1880 - it still is.[1,2]

When the Fete de la federation met on July 14, 1790 they shouted, "Vive le 14 juillet!" which translated means, "Long live July 14th!" They did commemorate the victory of Bastille and maybe it is throughout the almost ninety-years that followed before the French Government of 1880 made Fete Nationale le juillet 14 France's National Holiday, that July 14 was known as Bastille Day - and may explain why so many French people embrace that title as well.

The Bastille Prison and Its Symbolic Value

Often it can be found among numerous sources that the Bastille Prison symbolized absolutism and cruelty to the French people, and understandably so. The only requirement for imprisonment was a letter signed by the King (lettre de cachet) and there was no trial, or jury of peers, nor was there a chance for appeal. When read aloud by an official for the intended prisoner, one didn't even know why they had to go, they just followed orders. As unfair as this was though, it wasn't like hundreds or thousands of people were arrested and imprisoned on a yearly basis. Yet this system of imprisonment set firm ground for seeing the Bastille as a place that represented absolutism.

Factoring into the symbolization of cruelty at the Bastille Prison were rumors of torture. Upon release, prisoners were not allowed to discuss what happened there so naturally the citizens of that time believed the rumors to be true. However, it is now known that they were unfounded as prisoners generally had the "run of the mill" - especially wealthy ones.

This unjust form of imprisonment was not started by Louis XVI, it was started in 1557 by Cardinal de Richelieu.

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