French Revolution remembered on Bastille Day anniversary

cultureJul 14, 202634421

July 14 marks the 1789 storming of the Bastille in Paris, an event that freed seven prisoners and ignited the French Revolution. Observers note that Bastille Day became France's national holiday in 1880 and is now marked with solemn military parades, dancing, and fireworks. Commenters and writers use the anniversary to debate the Revolution's legacy, citing voices such as Simon Schama and archival criticism by Edwin Frank about how the Revolution is written. Several posts point to cultural remembrances: a 1989 French miniseries about the Revolution featuring Sam Neill as Lafayette, exhibitions at the Musee Carnavalet, and reading lists of scholarship and fiction on the period. Others reflect on themes from 1789 still discussed today, including the tension between revolutionary and constitutional government and the Revolution's violent episodes. The day also prompts modern political comparisons and calls for renewed action against inequality from some commentators. For practical remembrance, posters offer museum recommendations, book lists, and historical notes about the Bastille episode and its symbolic role in ending monarchy rule in France.

Greg Jenner (Historian)

@gregjenner.bsky.social

France playing against Spain tonight, on Bastille Day of all days, so that’s gonna be a fascinating match

1402h ago

Pete Smith6

"Complex history there Geoff, lots of competition but also several historical links- the royal family being one." "Anjou?" "Well, yes, I've been on holiday to both countries."

Constance Bantman2

Opening with a minute of silence for the 10-year anniversary of the Nice terrorist attack too. 🖤

PJ Galley1

It feels like days since the last World Cup match. I’m missing my breakfast highlights catch ups from the night before. ⚽️

Chancer On A Bike1

Going to our village’s the air conditioned salle des fetes to watch it

Dak

@dak.bsky.social

Bastille Day is a great reminder that if you mistreat people long enough, they’ll eventually turn you into a souvenir. History is fun.

502h ago

EU Council

@consilium.europa.eu

🇫🇷 Happy national day to all French people! Bonne fête nationale à la France ! The French flag was adopted during the French Revolution in 1794 as a symbol of the Revolution’s ideals. 🔗 link.europa.eu/VhnQTp

illustration of a realistic hand in black and white holding a colorful French flag

273h ago

FGFriendliesOnBluesky

@fgfriendlies.bsky.social

It's 9 am UK/10 am CET it's time for @fgfriendlies.bsky.social from your host @feelgoodonbluesky.bsky.social PLEASE CHECK MY DAILY SCHEDULE FOR ALL FEEL GOOD GAMES TODAY! Today is #BastilleDay so let's play: #ASongOrMovieForAboutFrance

122h ago

Anne Thériault

@annetheriault.bsky.social

Really need Joan of Arc or whoever to come through and deliver a semifinals victory for France on Bastille Day of all days

221h ago

Catherine Hartmann 🇪🇺 🇨🇵 🇧🇪 🇮🇪

@cathhart.eurosky.social

Maybe we need a new Revolution? Happy Fête Nationale (Bastille Day) #14juillet #ColorADay #BlueTue

A blanket of blue flowers with some white tulips and red roses. I use the photo to illustrate the French flag (blue, white, red) to celebrate France's national day.

193h ago

Dónal Hassett

@donalh.bsky.social

On July 14 1953 Parisian police opened fire on Algerian nationalists participating in the annual Bastille Day parade of left-wing movements. They killed 6 Algerians and one French Communist activist. The French Wikipedia page has been properly fleshed out of late: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacr...

72h ago

Prof Frank McDonough

@fxmc1957.bsky.social

FACT OF THE DAY. 14 July 1789. French Revolution began when a mob stormed the Bastille, a royal fortress and prison in Paris, which was judged to symbolize the tyranny of the French monarchy. The mob released 7 prisoners. The French commemorate the day as French National Day (Fête nationale).

102h ago

Dr Ian McCormick

@wokestudies.bsky.social

Mireille Mathieu's legendary performance of La Marseillaise with the Eiffel Tower in the background. Happy Bastille Day! www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIxO... #France #Revolution

121h ago

Miska Knapek

@miskaknapek.bsky.social

National day of France today - Bastille Day live on youtube, for the fans ;) www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLo4...

102h ago

wisevis2

Aujourd'hui je mange de la brioche.

Red tickseed

@redtickseed.bsky.social

Reminded that there was a French miniseries from the 80s about the French revolution in which sam neil played Lafayette

Sam neil as Lafayette in the French revolution 1989

1113h ago

Code5

@dr-angela-march.bsky.social

Btw, danes je francoski nacionalni praznik, obletnica začetka francoske revolucije, znana tudi kot Bastille Day. Mislim, da bi jo morali obhajati v parkih s plesom belo oblecenih deklic okrog majhnih giljotin.

92h ago

JudgeSabo 🏴

@judgesabo.bsky.social

Another interesting thing I'm learning by studying the French Revolution is that they distinguished between the revolutionary government they had and the constitutional government they aimed at. Unsurprisingly, a big issue they faced was the revolutionary government not wanting to wither away.

8Yesterday

Boston Review

@bostonreview.bsky.social

“For Simon Schama, the French Revolution was worse than wrongheaded; it was de trop. Its rhetorical—leave aside real—overkill made it too deplorably melodramatic for words.” From the archive, Edwin Frank on ways of writing about revolution, what Schama got wrong, and what Hilary Mantel got right:

516h ago

RTÉ Brainstorm

@rtebrainstorm.bsky.social

Meet the Irish people who fought for the French Resistance during World War II, including Samuel Beckett, Janie McCarthy, Mary Elmes and Maureen O'Sullivan. By @ooh99.bsky.social @ucc.ie #BastilleDay www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...

32h ago

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French Revolution remembered on Bastille Day anniversary

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