Four Important Figures in Bastille Day History

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Every year on the 14th of July, France celebrates the commemoration of Bastille Day. In 2025, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto attended the commemoration of this important day in the French Revolution.

Bastille Day is a significant part of the French Revolution. This revolution transformed the absolute monarchy system used in France at that time into the republican democratic system that is still used today. The French Revolution became a symbol of the people's resistance against injustice and feudalism. The event not only influenced the domestic conditions of France but also the political order worldwide.

The French Revolution marked the beginning of introducing universal principles based on written law, legal protection, political participation, and human rights (HR). It also served as an example for forming a government by the people, for the people. The spirit of the French Revolution also inspired and spread the idea of revolution across the world.

The French Revolution began in 1789 and ended in 1799 when Napoleon terminated the revolution and seized power. During that time, several important events occurred, one of which was the storming of the Bastille, now known as Bastille Day. This attack took place on the 14th of July 1789 and marked the beginning of the French Revolution.

Furthermore, the Bastille event was a response to the disappointment and anger of the people towards the corrupt monarchy leadership. There were four important figures directly and indirectly involved in the storming of the Bastille, including Louis XVI, the last King of France, and his wife, Marie Antoinette.

Here is the list of the four important figures in Bastille Day history:

1. Louis XVI

Louis XVI was the last king of the French monarchy. He was from the Bourbon Dynasty and ruled from 1774, succeeding his grandfather, Louis XV, until 1792 when the monarchy system was abolished entirely. Louis XVI was born on the 23rd of August 1754 in Versailles, France, as the son of Louis, Dauphin of France, and Maria Josepha of Saxony.

He married at a very young age for political reasons. Louis XVI married Marie Antoinette of Austria at the age of 15. He ascended to the throne at the age of 20 after the deaths of his grandfather and father, making him the direct heir.

Louis XVI led France during a time of crisis. The country's economic and financial situation forced him to implement policy reforms, including tax rule changes. However, this was unsuccessful as it was rejected by the church and the nobility, and Louis XVI lacked the firmness to confront these issues. The worsening domestic conditions led to the people's anger, resulting in a revolution. The peak was when Louis and his wife were executed by guillotine at the Place de la Rvolution, now known as Place de la Concorde in Paris.

2. Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette was the last queen and monarch of France, as well as the wife of Louis XVI, the King of France at the time. She was from the noble class of Austria, the daughter of Emperor Franz I and Maria Theresa of Habsburg, born on the 2nd of November 1755.

Marie Antoinette was known for her controversial actions during her reign as the Queen of France. Her extravagant and lavish lifestyle at the Palace of Versailles, such as buying expensive jewelry and frequent parties amid an ongoing economic crisis, was criticized. One of the extravagant displays was the Petit Trianon, her private residence.

Her lifestyle, which was considered insensitive to the people's conditions, led to the famous idiom "let them eat cake". Although there is no historical evidence that Marie ever said this, the idiom is often associated with the Queen of France. The meaning of the idiom is that of someone who is indifferent to the hardships of others, especially during a crisis.

Marie Antoinette and her husband attempted to escape to Varennes amidst the escalating public anger but failed. Both were publicly executed. Marie Antoinette was executed on the 16th of October 1793 at the same place as her husband.

3. Bernard-Ren de Launay

Bernard-Ren de Launay was the governor of Bastille and one of the triggers of the riot that occurred in the Bastille prison on the 14th of July 1789. De Launay was responsible for maintaining security in the Bastille prison, which at the time was seen as a symbol of the repression and tyranny of the French monarchy. De Launay was killed after a confrontation, repeatedly stabbed, and his head was beheaded, then paraded around the city.

4. Camille Desmoulins

Camille Desmoulins was one of the most prominent and influential journalists during the French Revolution. He played a crucial role in inciting the French Revolution, particularly the storming of the Bastille, through his writings, distributed pamphlets, and criticism of the French monarchy at the time. However, his life ended tragically as he was accused of being a counter-revolutionary due to his criticism and was executed by the revolutionary government on the 5th of April 1794.

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