They took possession of the city gates, and, thinking themselves now strong enough for any exploit, on the third day of the insurrection, the 14th of July, they marched in overpowering force to attack the Bastile.
In former times the Bastile had been the great fortress of the city; and, as such, it had been fortified with all the resources of the engineer's art.

Massive well-armed towers rose at numerous points above walls of great height and solidity.

A deep fosse surrounded it, and, when well supplied and garrisoned, it had been regarded with pride by the citizens, as a bulwark capable of defying the utmost efforts of a foreign enemy, and not the less to be admired because they never expected it to be exposed to such a test; but as a warlike fortress it had long been disused.

In recent times it had only been known as the State-prison, identified more than any other with the worst acts of despotism and barbarity.

As such it was now as much detested as it had formerly been respected; and it had nothing but the outward appearance of strength to resist an attack.