Reveillon riot
Encyclopedia
The Réveillon Riot occurred on 28 April 1789 in the St. Antoine district of Paris where a factory which produced luxury wallpaper was owned by Jean-Baptiste Réveillon
. The factory employed around 300 people. The Réveillon Riot was one of the first instances of violence
during the French Revolution
. The factory where the riot took place was unusual in pre-revolutionary France as the factory was guild
-free in an era where guilds controlled quality standards.
The riot occurred when rumors spread that the owner had made a speech stating that workers, many of whom were highly-skilled were to be paid lower wages and, as a result, there would be lower prices. Workers were concerned with food shortages, high unemployment, and low wages after a difficult winter in 1789. However, Reveillon was known for his benevolence towards the poor and actually stated that bread prices should be brought down to those that people could afford (below 15 sous
a day) but his comments were misinterpreted as wage restrictions. He made the comments on 21 April when the assembly of the Saint-Marguerite was discussing its cahier
which all Estates drew up before the Estates-General was to be called.
As demand for bread increased riots spread to other areas of France such as Flanders
and Normandy
. Bread prices would increase further and did not peak until July. The riot was essentially economic in nature but some rioters chanted political slogans.
The rumours caused violence to erupt on the eve that the Estates-General
were called. While the mob did not manage to destroy the factory as it was being guarded by a group of around fifty troops, a factory owned by the saltpetre
manufacturer Henriot was destroyed after he made similar comments. However Réveillon’s factory was destroyed a day later as was his home The riot killed 25 people and wounded around the same number although rumour caused the casualty figures to be exaggerated. The French Guard were used to restore order but these later refused orders during the fall of the Bastille
.
Jean-Baptiste Réveillon
Jean-Baptiste Réveillon, was a French wallpaper manufacturer. Réveillon's career was an exemplary story of the self-made businessman.-Life:...
. The factory employed around 300 people. The Réveillon Riot was one of the first instances of violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
during the French Revolution
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...
. The factory where the riot took place was unusual in pre-revolutionary France as the factory was guild
Guild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
-free in an era where guilds controlled quality standards.
The riot occurred when rumors spread that the owner had made a speech stating that workers, many of whom were highly-skilled were to be paid lower wages and, as a result, there would be lower prices. Workers were concerned with food shortages, high unemployment, and low wages after a difficult winter in 1789. However, Reveillon was known for his benevolence towards the poor and actually stated that bread prices should be brought down to those that people could afford (below 15 sous
Solidus (coin)
The solidus was originally a gold coin issued by the Romans, and a weight measure for gold more generally, corresponding to 4.5 grams.-Roman and Byzantine coinage:...
a day) but his comments were misinterpreted as wage restrictions. He made the comments on 21 April when the assembly of the Saint-Marguerite was discussing its cahier
Cahiers de doléances
The Cahiers de Doléances were the lists of grievances drawn up by each of the three Estates in France, between March and April 1789, the year in which the French Revolution began...
which all Estates drew up before the Estates-General was to be called.
As demand for bread increased riots spread to other areas of France such as Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
and Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. Bread prices would increase further and did not peak until July. The riot was essentially economic in nature but some rioters chanted political slogans.
The rumours caused violence to erupt on the eve that the Estates-General
French States-General
In France under the Old Regime, the States-General or Estates-General , was a legislative assembly of the different classes of French subjects. It had a separate assembly for each of the three estates, which were called and dismissed by the king...
were called. While the mob did not manage to destroy the factory as it was being guarded by a group of around fifty troops, a factory owned by the saltpetre
Potassium nitrate
Potassium nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula KNO3. It is an ionic salt of potassium ions K+ and nitrate ions NO3−.It occurs as a mineral niter and is a natural solid source of nitrogen. Its common names include saltpetre , from medieval Latin sal petræ: "stone salt" or possibly "Salt...
manufacturer Henriot was destroyed after he made similar comments. However Réveillon’s factory was destroyed a day later as was his home The riot killed 25 people and wounded around the same number although rumour caused the casualty figures to be exaggerated. The French Guard were used to restore order but these later refused orders during the fall of the 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...
.