The Women's March on Versailles: October 5, 1789

On October 5, 1789, thousands of Parisian women—market vendors, housewives, and workers—marched 12 miles to Versailles to confront King Louis XVI over bread shortages and soaring prices.

What Happened

• Women stormed the National Assembly, demanding action.
• They invaded the palace, killing guards and searching for the Queen.
• Lafayette and the National Guard arrived to restore order.
• Under pressure, the King agreed to return to Paris with the crowd.

Significance

• End of royal independence: The King became a virtual prisoner in the Tuileries Palace.
• Power shift: The Revolution moved from Versailles to Paris, under popular pressure.
• Women's political agency: A rare, documented mass action by women in the Revolution.

Note: This is distinct from the Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789), which occurred three months earlier.