Is it a Revolt? - No it's Bastille Day!

Today is Bastille Day. A national holiday in France named after a prison in Paris. The storming of the Bastille in 1789, started 'The Reign of Terror' when many aristocrats were executed. At the time of its storming, the Bastille only held seven prisoners.
Not bad for someone who studied the French Revolution at 'A' level several decades ago.

Of course, I was wondering how we could commemorate this day at the Museum, using our Collections. Perhaps we could focus on our one and only Waterloo medal? Not sure that would work. Okay, perhaps we should focus on the Arroyo drums? That sounds more like a good connection. Why not? The Bastille Day celebrations in Paris include the Military parade along the Champs Elysees, the oldest military parade in the world, so I am sure that this military connection is enough to warrant a blog post...

The link with all this is of course Napoleon Bonaparte, french statesman and military leader, who became Emperor of France. One of the stories we like to tell people when showing them around the Museum, is one about Napoleon's connection with the Arroyo drums. These are the French drums used by the 34eme Regiment de la Ligne, captured by the 34th (Cumberland) Regiment of Foot in 1811. Drums that would have been given to the 34eme Regiment by Napoleon himself. I love the thought that the Emperor would have actually touched these drums as he handed them over to the soldiers. A real connection in Alma Block to this historical figure!

But of course, in reality, these drums would have needed to be looked after, used in battle, polished, bits replaced, recovered, polished again, fixed, mended, used. Once captured, the drums were again a focal point for the British 34th Foot. Put on display, used at ceremonial events, played, mended, transported, fixed, recovered, polished, bits replaced. I think you get the idea. So although we advocate the connection with Napoleon, suggesting that his actual hands would have touched the drums as he handed them to the French soldiers...the likelihood is that these have been mended, fixed, updated so many times that it is unlikely Napoleon actually touched these drums which are currently on display in the Museum.

A minor detail which we wouldn't want to get in the way of a good story...



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