55 France: Gold Medal for the French Guards for storming the Bastille, 1789.

Rombus-shaped gold medal on the original ribbon of fine silk. Gold.

Comes with the extremly rare original award certificate issued by the Mayor and Representative of the city of Paris ("de la Commune de Paris" ) Bailly and the "Commandant - Général" of the Gardes Francoises Marquise de Lafayette to Grenadier Bouquet.

Dated Paris, September 15, 1789 with original signatures of Lafayette and Bailly in black ink, In the upper part red lacquer seal of the "Gardes Nationales Parisiennes" as well as colored vignette. Interestingly, the formerly existing symbols of the kingdom (Fleur de Lys) as well as the coat of arms of Paris were painted over in the French national colours of the tricolore.

Document approx. 28 x 19 cm.

The storming of the Bastille is probably the most famous event of the French Revolution. Of the approximately 1000 participants, only about 100 belonged to the "gardes francaises", the French guard and other militrary units. These troops had a decisive share in the success of the capture of this famous - infamous fortress which was considered a symbol of oppression.

Already on 1July 15, 1789, the day after the storming of the Bastille, the marquise de La Fayette was appointed by the city of Paris (Commune de Paris) to the "commandant générale de la milice parisienne "from which a short time later the Garde Nationale was formed.

The decorations were made in their final form as gold "losange" by the goldsmith Francastel.

Due to the revolutionary circumstances, especially the adoption of the Constitution of August 10, 1793, the wearing of decorations was considered a symbol of the hated past era of oppression and tyranny (Ancien Régime).

By decrees of the National Assembly of August 20 and November 18, 1793, the decorations originally awarded to the conquerors of the Bastille (Couronne Murale and Médaille d' Or des Gardes Francaises) were abolished and the return of the decorations and their award certificates to the local authorities was ordered. 

Therefore, very few original decorations of the participants of this world-historical event have been preserved.

Ensemble of extraordinary rarity of this probably most exclusive award of the French Revolution.

Literature: André Souyris - Rollande, Histoire des distinctions et des récompenses nationales, vol. 1, pp. 24-25. 

1-2