As a hated symbol and being in the heart of Paris, the Bastille was a perfect target for the protestors. At the time of the actual 'storming' of the Bastille, it is reported that there were actual negotiations being held on a peaceful handover of the prison... the protestors broke into one of the outer compounds and a bloody seize began. At the end of the day, nearly 100 protestors had lost their lives to only one soldier, although more soldiers were to be killed by the lynch mob.