After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal Bloody Beginning of the French Revolution
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Feb 9, 2026 
Michael Rapport, Reader in Modern European History at the University of Glasgow, guides a vivid retelling of 1789 Paris. Short scenes cover why revolution caught France off guard. He unpacks the Bastille’s military role and symbolic power. Listeners hear how crowd action, troop movements and political crisis turned a royal fortress into a spark for nationwide upheaval.
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Tennis Court Oath As The Constitutional Break
- Deputies of the Third Estate joined by liberal nobles and clergy swore on a tennis court not to separate until they wrote a constitution.
- Abbe Sieyes called it 'cutting the cable,' marking a constitutional break with absolute monarchy.
Hunger And Troops Made The City Volatile
- Summer 1789 mixed exhilaration about change with acute food shortages after the 1788 hail-damaged harvest.
- Troop deployments around Paris amplified fear the king would use force, raising the likelihood of popular violence.
Bastille: Fortress And Symbol
- The Bastille was a medieval fortress turned symbol of royal repression and a practical munitions store and garrison.
- Its location near independent artisan districts made it a potent symbol and tactical target for Parisians.
