The Bastille or Bastille Saint-Antoine was completed in 1383. The commander of the Bastille was its governor, and was previously called capitaine.
History
In 1367, King Charles V ordered the construction of the fort et bastide Saint Anthoine lez Paris, literally fort and bastide of Saint Anthony close to Paris, which will later take the name of Bastille. The works will be completed twenty years later, in 1387, under the reign of Charles VI. The first captain-governor was a close acquaintaince of the King, already chamberlain under the two previous reigns: Jehan de La Personne, knight, viscount of Acy, lord of Beu and Nesle-en-Tardenois, chamberlain of the King. He is quoted in numerous documents between 1386 and November 1404, date of his death that are now held in the department of manuscripts of the Bibliothèque nationale de France. The last governor to hold this position, the unfortunate Bernard-René de Launay, appointed in 1776, was beheaded on 14 July 1789 and replaced by a provisional governor during the demolition of the building.
At the end of the Ancien Régime, the governor of the Bastille was reduced to being a subordinate of the lieutenant-general of police. He could do nothing without the express order of this magistrate. A governor who would have dared to adhere to the regulations and to only recognize orders given by the King, would not have remained long in command. If he wanted to remain, he had no other rules to follow than the orders of the lieutenant-general of police, or even those of a simple police commissioner
Article 1 of the regulation of 20 September 1764, signed by the King stated:
"The governor who commands, or any other officer, shall recognize only the orders of His Majesty and those given to him by the secretary of state."
However, a letter dated 23 September 1764, signed by the Secretary of State, authorizes the following:
"I enclose here, Sir, the regulations which the King has thought fit to render for the service of the Bastille. The King finds it fitting that when the Lieutenant-General of Police sends you prisoners, you receive them on a letter from him until a letter can be sent to you in good form, as has often been used and according to that circumstances that demand it. You will do well to use them in the same way, for the visits which the lieutenant-general of police thinks they can allow prisoners to receive and who do not require a formal order, but only a letter from him."
The regulation also ordered the exact registration of the first and last names of prisoners for entry, exit and death, but the ministerial instruction authorized the substitution of surnames and given names. This is how Jean Henri Latude was registered under his real name, later under the names of Danry, Maiville and Villemain. The Man in the Iron Mask was buried under the name of Marchiali with a false indication of age.
The position of governor of the Bastille, all military ranks, all military posts, the provincial governors, were negotiated as bills of exchange. It was only a matter of obtaining the approval of the King, it was a common commercial sale. These transactions were considered normal at the time. The purchaser of the title of Governor of the Bastille was always certain of a good deal if he lived a long life. A year or two in office, was largely sufficient to repay the purchase.