The history of the Bastile, and of its principal captives

Name: The history of the Bastile, and of its principal captives
Author: R. A. Davenport

By R. A. Davenport

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History - Early Modern (c. 1450-1750)History - European History - Medieval/Middle Ages History - Modern (1750+)

About This Book

A detailed account traces the fortress's architectural features and daily operations, describing towers, dungeons, chapel, library, guards, and the exercise grounds, and examines procedures such as lettres de cachet, secrecy, searches, medical care, wills, and clandestine burials. It recounts changes in the treatment of inmates and presents representative prisoner testimonies and practices used to control information. Subsequent chapters follow the stronghold's role across successive reigns, outlining how political factions, conspiracies, and shifting royal policies dictated confinement, and recounting sieges, surrenders, and administrative adjustments that shaped its function as an instrument of state authority.

About the Author

R. A. Davenport

R. A. Davenport was an author known for his explorations of themes related to deception and historical narratives. His notable works include "Sketches of Imposture, Deception, and Credulity," which delves into the nature of fraud and belief, and "The History of the Bastile, and of Its Principal Captives," a detailed account of the infamous prison and its notable inmates. Davenport's writings reflect a keen interest in the interplay between truth and illusion, contributing to the literary discourse of his time.