Bernard-René de Launay
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Bernard René Jourdan, marquis de Launay (1740-1789) was a French governor of the Bastille, the son of a previous governor, and commander of its garrison when it was stormed on 14 July 1789 (see Storming of the Bastille).
He was dragged away and killed by those who had attacked the prison - he was literally torn to shreds. He was seized and dragged towards the Hôtel de Ville in a storm of abuse. Outside the Hôtel a discussion as to his fate began. The tormented de Launay, who had been badly beaten, shouted "Enough! Let me die!" and kicked a pastry cook named Desnot in the groin. De Launay was then stabbed repeatedly and fell to the street; his head was sawn off and fixed on a pike to be carried through the streets. Some of his descendants settled in Russia, see Boris Delaunay and Vadim Delaunay for details.
[edit] Quotes
The event is described in several literary accounts, notably Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities (where fictional detail is added to fit into the plot):
- "They found [ the mob ] surging and tossing, in quest of Defarge himself. Saint Antoine was clamorous to have its wine–shop keeper foremost in the guard upon the governor who had defended the Bastille and shot the people. Otherwise, the governor would not be marched to the Hôtel de Ville for judgment. Otherwise, the governor would escape, and the people’s blood (suddenly of some value, after many years of worthlessness) be unavenged.
- In the howling universe of passion and contention that seemed to encompass this grim old officer conspicuous in his grey coat and red decoration, there was but one quite steady figure, and that was Madame Defarge’s. “See, there is my husband!” she cried, pointing him out. “See Defarge!” She stood immovable close to the grim old officer, and remained immovable close to him; remained immovable close to him through the streets, as Defarge and the rest bore him along; remained immovable close to him when he was got near his destination, and began to be struck at from behind; remained immovable close to him when the long–gathering rain of stabs and blows fell heavy; was so close to him when he dropped dead under it, that, suddenly animated, she put her foot upon his neck, and with her cruel knife—long ready—hewed off his head." (Book II, Chapter 21)
