The Bastille was a medieval fortress in Paris that was used as a state prison by the French monarchy.

By 1789, it held only a few prisoners but remained a powerful symbol of royal absolutism and tyranny.

In July 1789, tensions in Paris were high due to rising bread prices and the king's dismissal of a popular minister, Jacques Necker.

On July 14, 1789, a large crowd of Parisians marched on the Bastille, primarily to seize the gunpowder and weapons stored inside.

The crowd stormed the fortress after a tense standoff and a bloody confrontation with the garrison.

The governor of the Bastille was killed, and his head was paraded through the streets.

The fall of the Bastille was a major symbolic victory for the revolutionaries.

It demonstrated that the king's authority could be challenged by popular action and saved the National Assembly from being dissolved by the king's troops.

The event marked the beginning of the French Revolution and the entry of the Parisian common people onto the political stage.

July 14th, the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, is celebrated as France's national day.