The Storming of the Tuileries was a pivotal event during the French Revolution, occurring on August 10, 1792. This event marked the fall of the monarchy in France and was a direct challenge to King Louis XVI's authority, leading to his eventual arrest.
Following the Tennis Court Oath and the subsequent Storming of the Bastille in 1789, the French Revolution had seen significant political and social upheaval. By 1792, France was embroiled in both internal conflict and the French Revolutionary Wars against several European powers. King Louis XVI, who had been largely discredited by the Flight to Varennes in 1791, was seen by many as a traitor to the revolutionary cause.
On August 10, 1792, after days of tension and rumors of royalist plots, a large crowd, including members of the Paris Commune and radical factions like the Sans-culottes, gathered at the Tuileries Palace. The crowd, demanding the deposition of the king, overwhelmed the Swiss Guards defending the palace. Despite the initial resistance from the guards, the sheer number of attackers and the lack of support from the National Guard led to a violent clash:
The Storming of the Tuileries had immediate and far-reaching consequences:
The Storming of the Tuileries is remembered as a turning point in the French Revolution, symbolizing the end of the monarchy and the rise of radical republicanism. It underscored the power of the people and the Paris mob in influencing political change, setting a precedent for future uprisings.