Following the establishment of the National Assembly and the storming of the Bastille, a bread shortage and rising prices were impacting the lower class residents of Paris. Mob violence began to take to the streets, even one time killing a baker who raised his prices.
The March
On October 5, 1789, a working-class mob began to swell based on rumors that grains were being hoarded by royals throughout the country. Nearly 6,000 hungry women gathered in Paris and began to march to Versailles, picking up canons and weapons along the way.
Marie Antoinette suffered the majority of disdain from angry rioters. Songs were being written as they marched about killing the queen. Duc de Fronsac, one of the king's courtiers, learned of the mob and their intended target and rushed to warn the palace. Antoinette hid in the king's apartment. King Louis XVI called a meeting to determine what actions would be taken. Antoinette plead with the king to allow the royal family to flee, but he refused to entertain the notion.
The queen understood that she was the main target by the angry mob, so she chose to sleep alone that night. Her children's governess, Marquise de Tourzel, was given instructions to inform the king should any disturbances be made.
The Mob Raids
20,000 National Guardsmen under the command of La Fayette were assembled, however, order was not to be maintained. During the early hours of the morning, the mob finally broke into the palace. The angry crowd killed two Royal bodyguards, decapitating them and sticking their heads on pikes. Marie Antoinette and two of her ladies-in-waiting narrowly escaped with their lives through a secret passageway. The crowd busted into the queen's chambers and destroyed everything in their path. The group descended on the king's chambers where they met the children and Madam Elisabeth, the king's younger sister.
The Queen Responds
The crowd gathered in the courtyard and demanded the queen appear on the balcony. After a few minutes, Marie Antoinette walked onto the balcony and stood alone for ten minutes. During this time, a number of people pointed muskets at her, threatening to fire. After the time, the queen bowed her head and returned inside.
Although the crowd began to calm from this event, women in the mob were still demanding bread and food. Demands were also issued for the royal family to leave their palace and return to Paris. Reluctantly, Louis XVI agreed and the family was placed in house arrest at the Tuileries Palace. They were joined by the National Constituent Assembly and the king's court. Louis XVI would never see Versailles again.
Sources:
Simon Schama, Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution (Vintage Books, 1990)
Peter McPhee, The French Revolution 1789-1799 (Oxford University Press, 2002)
David Andress, French Society in Revolution 1789-1799 (Manchester University Press, 1999)
Hugh Gough, The Terror in the French Revolution (Palgrave Macmillan, 1998)
Jason Chavis - Jason lives and works out of Minneapolis. He is the author of four books, two movies and a play as well as numerous articles for a variety ...
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