Day of the Tiles

Day of the Tiles
Alexandre Debelle · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Day of the Tiles
Caption	Depiction of the confrontation in Grenoble.
Date	7 June 1788
Place	Grenoble, Kingdom of France
Also known as	Journée des Tuiles
Type	Riot, popular revolt
Motive	Opposition to Louis XVI's judicial reforms and defense of the Parlement of Grenoble
Participants	Citizens of Grenoble, members of the Parlement of Grenoble, French Royal Army
Outcome	Temporary victory for the populace; forced reinstatement of the Parlement; event seen as a prelude to the French Revolution

Day of the Tiles. The Day of the Tiles was a significant popular revolt that occurred in the city of Grenoble on 7 June 1788. The event, named for the roof tiles thrown by townspeople at royal troops, was a direct response to Louis XVI's attempts to suppress the local Parlement of Grenoble. It is widely regarded as one of the first major acts of defiance against royal authority preceding the French Revolution.

Background and causes

The immediate cause of the disturbance was a series of edicts issued by the king's minister, Étienne Charles de Loménie de Brienne, aimed at overhauling the French judicial system. These reforms sought to replace the powerful regional parlements, including the Parlement of Grenoble, with a more pliable court system, thereby centralizing royal authority. The Parlement of Grenoble, like its counterparts in Paris and Rennes, had become a focal point for resistance against the Ancien Régime, often refusing to register new taxes and royal decrees. This political crisis was exacerbated by a severe economic downturn and poor harvests, which fueled widespread discontent among the Third Estate and the local bourgeoisie. The summoning of the Estates General was a key demand from these parlements, setting the stage for a direct confrontation between provincial autonomy and the absolute monarchy of the House of Bourbon.

The riot

On 7 June 1788, royal authorities, led by the military commander the Duke of Clermont-Tonnerre, attempted to exile the magistrates of the Parlement of Grenoble and close the courthouse. In response, lawyers, merchants, and artisans sounded the tocsin from church steeples, mobilizing the citizenry. As soldiers from the French Royal Army regiments, such as the Régiment de Royal-La Marine, moved to occupy the city, they were met with fierce resistance. Townspeople, positioned on rooftops along narrow streets like the Grande Rue, hurled a barrage of roof tiles down upon the troops. The confrontation escalated into street fighting, forcing the soldiers to retreat to the Place Grenette. Faced with an overwhelming and organized populace, the authorities were compelled to negotiate, resulting in the temporary reinstatement of the parlement and the agreement to convene the provincial Estates of Dauphiné.

Aftermath and significance

The immediate aftermath saw a symbolic victory for the Grenoblois, as the exiled magistrates returned in triumph. This event directly inspired the subsequent Assembly of Vizille, where representatives from across Dauphiné demanded the doubling of the Third Estate and voting by head in the upcoming Estates General. The Day of the Tiles demonstrated the potential for successful popular mobilization against the crown, emboldening reformers and revolutionaries across France, including figures like Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau. It is historically significant as a clear precursor to the French Revolution, highlighting the collapse of royal authority in the provinces and the role of the parlements in channeling revolutionary sentiment. The event is commemorated as an early instance of collective action that paved the way for the Storming of the Bastille and the broader revolutionary upheaval.

Category:1788 in France Category:French Revolution Category:History of Grenoble Category:Riots and civil disorder in France