by Steve Martin

Created on: January 11, 2009   Last Updated: May 11, 2011

No. 232, Rue Saint-Antoine better known as The Bastille holds an important place in the imagination of all French people as it was the storming of this prison, on July 14, 1789 that began the French Revolution. It is for this reason that the French holiday of this date is known as Bastille Day.

The Bastille had a long history prior to this, however, having been built in the late 14th Century as a fortress to protect the city of Paris. Until the 17th century, The Bastille continued to be used as a castle and, like The Tower of London, served as a repository for the safe-keeping of the royal treasure.

However, it was in the 17th century that Cardinal Richelieu decided that The Bastille should become a prison. Again, there are similarities with the Tower of London as this was to be no ordinary prison for the thieves and debtors of Paris but, rather, was to hold those of higher rank who offended the King. The prison was no dank dungeon where prisoners were left to rot. The high-born inmates of The Bastille could bring their own furniture, receive guests, have their servants wait on them and generally lead a comfortable existence. The reputation of the prison as a place of oppression stems more from the arbitrary arrest powers of the King.

It was in the 18th Century, in the reign of Louis XV, that The Bastille came to resemble a prison as we know it, with the building accommodating more and more prisoners and also holding those held on the more common, criminal charges. The prison also held many individuals who were committed by their own families due to mental illness.

During its lifetime, The Bastille held many famous prisoners. Two of the best known are the French writer and philosopher, Voltaire, and the infamous Marquis de Sade (whose legacy to the world is the word "sadism). However, the most famous of all The Bastille's residents is The Man in the Iron Mask, held for many years until his death in 1703. To this day, the identity of this individual remains a mystery as, during his incarceration, nobody ever saw whose face was hidden behind the mask (which was actually made out of velvet, not iron).

The storming of The Bastille by the Parisian mob actually took place as they wanted the supply of arms and ammunition stored there (there were actually only seven prisoners held in the prison at the time it was attacked). Nearly one hundred of the attackers were killed by the defending troops in the attack and only one defender. However, the Parisian insurrection spread throughout France and the storming of The Bastille passed into legend.

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