The Storming of the Tuileries Palace (August 10, 1792)

 

“France’s ‘Second Revolution’: The Storming of the Tuileries Palace: History Revision for GCSE, IGCSE, IB and AS/A2 HISTORY: Mr Allsop History,” History revision for GCSE IGCSE IB and ASA2 History Mr Allsop History Frances Second Revolution the storming of the Tuileries Palace Comments, accessed September 12, 2023, https://www.mrallsophistory.com/revision/description-the-second-revolution-storming-of-the-tuileries-palace-10th-aug-1792.html.

Alpha History, “The Attack on the Tuileries,” French Revolution, October 23, 2022, https://alphahistory.com/frenchrevolution/attack-on-the-tuileries/.


It was two in the morning of August 10th, people can be heard and seen all throughout the streets making their way to the Tuileries Palace.¹ Approximately an hour after, the lines of artillery among other arrangements are visible in preparation of the upcoming storming of the palace. While the crowds amassed, some artillerymen and National Guardsmen defending the palace were enticed by the revolutionary spirit. They abandoned their posts and united with their fellow countrymen. Even though, some remained within the confines of the palace with a different ploy in mind. They projected signs of fraternity towards the citizens, but this was all a trick to have citizens let their guard down.² Fooled, the people approached the palace believing they could take it over without firing a single shot. But as soon as they approached the stairs they were shot down at point blank range by the Swiss guards that remained.

With that signal, the remaining defenders let loose on the people by firing their muskets and field pieces alike. Eventually, the people retreated to regroup and thereafter returned to fight bringing in artillery of their own as well.³ They fought their way through and eventually made it into the palace where they would commence their massacre of the Swiss guard. Only very few of the guards managed to escape while the rest were cut down while the citizens began to trap them by setting portions of the building on fire.

At about five in the afternoon, it was evident that the battle had run its course and that the people were triumphant.⁴ With this triumph, some took the liberty to begin looting and vandalizing which would prove a fatal mistake for them. This infuriated the rest of the people consolidating after the battle, and led to justice being served promptly to the perpetuators by method of execution. 

The resulting effect of this insurrection led to the abolishing of the monarchy and establishment of the first French Republic.


1. Chew, William L. “The Journée Du Dix Août as Witnessed by a Yankee Merchant.” Journal of American Studies 46, no. 1 (2012): 89–101. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41427313.
2. Frères, Lévy. “Condorcet’s Account of the Events of August 10, 1792,” Account of the events of August 10, 1792 by Condorcet, accessed September 7, 2023, https://www.marxists.org/history/france/revolution/condorcet/1792/events-august.htm.
3. Frères, Condorcet’s Account of the Events of August 10, 1792.
4. Chew, The Journée Du Dix Août as Witnessed by a Yankee Merchant.

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