Day of Daggers
Encyclopedia
The Day of Daggers or 'Day of Poignards' was an event during the French Revolution
which occurred on 28 February 1791 when the Marquis de Lafayette arrested 400 armed aristocrats at the Tuileries in Paris. This occurred after attempts were made at both Lafayette's life and the King's.
On the Day of Daggers Lafayette was away attempting to quell a disturbance caused by Santerre, a Jacobin
and commander of the National Guard
in St.Antoine, in which Santerre and a mob of about twelve hundred marched toward Vincennes
, where they began to destroy part of the parapet and the dungeons that were holding prisoners from the recently fallen Bastille
, with the supposed intention of massacring the prisoners. There is also the popular belief that the real reason for this attack was because a subterranean passage linked the prison of Vincennes to the Tuileries, and the king intended to make his escape through this passage, but no real evidence supports this belief. After the stopping of the demolition, several assassination attempts were made on the general, though none were successful. Attempts were also made on the life of Lafayette's Aide-de-Camp, Auguste Masson, who also survived. The morning of the same day a chevalier
of St.Louis, M. de Court de Tombelle entered the Tuileries carrying a short stiletto and several pistols. He was arrested, but since there was no proof of his intentions he was released.
At around ten o'clock of the same day several hundred armed aristocrats and enemies of the revolution concerned for the safety of Louis XVI entered the Tuileries using cards of admission that they had previously received from Duke of Villequier, first gentlemen of the chamber of the king. This was seen as an attempt by the group to help the King escape from Paris which meant Lafayette had to quickly return, disarm the crowd, and arrest many of the men. Upon Lafayette's arrival with the National Guard many of the aristocrats refused to relinquish their arms, which consisted mostly of poignards of a single form. The king then had to confirm the General's orders, which were then carried out. The disarming of the nobles was then followed by their expulsion and almost complete emigration.
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
which occurred on 28 February 1791 when the Marquis de Lafayette arrested 400 armed aristocrats at the Tuileries in Paris. This occurred after attempts were made at both Lafayette's life and the King's.
On the Day of Daggers Lafayette was away attempting to quell a disturbance caused by Santerre, a Jacobin
Jacobin (politics)
A Jacobin , in the context of the French Revolution, was a member of the Jacobin Club, a revolutionary far-left political movement. The Jacobin Club was the most famous political club of the French Revolution. So called from the Dominican convent where they originally met, in the Rue St. Jacques ,...
and commander of the National Guard
National Guard (France)
The National Guard was the name given at the time of the French Revolution to the militias formed in each city, in imitation of the National Guard created in Paris. It was a military force separate from the regular army...
in St.Antoine, in which Santerre and a mob of about twelve hundred marched toward Vincennes
Vincennes
Vincennes is a commune in the Val-de-Marne department in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. It is one of the most densely populated municipalities in Europe.-History:...
, where they began to destroy part of the parapet and the dungeons that were holding prisoners from the recently fallen Bastille
Bastille
The Bastille was a fortress in Paris, known formally as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was used as a state prison by the kings of France. The Bastille was built in response to the English threat to the city of...
, with the supposed intention of massacring the prisoners. There is also the popular belief that the real reason for this attack was because a subterranean passage linked the prison of Vincennes to the Tuileries, and the king intended to make his escape through this passage, but no real evidence supports this belief. After the stopping of the demolition, several assassination attempts were made on the general, though none were successful. Attempts were also made on the life of Lafayette's Aide-de-Camp, Auguste Masson, who also survived. The morning of the same day a chevalier
Chevalier
Chevalier is a class of membership in a French Order of Chivalry or order of merit.* a member of the Ordre National du Mérite* a rank in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres* a rank in the Legion d'honneur* a member of the Order of Palmes académiques...
of St.Louis, M. de Court de Tombelle entered the Tuileries carrying a short stiletto and several pistols. He was arrested, but since there was no proof of his intentions he was released.
At around ten o'clock of the same day several hundred armed aristocrats and enemies of the revolution concerned for the safety of Louis XVI entered the Tuileries using cards of admission that they had previously received from Duke of Villequier, first gentlemen of the chamber of the king. This was seen as an attempt by the group to help the King escape from Paris which meant Lafayette had to quickly return, disarm the crowd, and arrest many of the men. Upon Lafayette's arrival with the National Guard many of the aristocrats refused to relinquish their arms, which consisted mostly of poignards of a single form. The king then had to confirm the General's orders, which were then carried out. The disarming of the nobles was then followed by their expulsion and almost complete emigration.