conspiracy wanted. The siege of the Bastille (July 14, 1789) was a brilliant coup of deception upon the part of the revolutionaries. After being terrorized by increasing acts of violence by the brigands, and the breakdown of law and order, the people of Paris sought to obtain arms with which to protect themselves. Rumors were then spread that the Bastille housed the needed arms; whereupon, a large crowd went to the Bastille seeking arms, not only for their own safety, but to defend the Monarchy as well. What they found in this "hated emblem of despotism,” as portrayed by revolutionary writers, were not captives in chains or torture-chambers, but seven prisoners living in relative comfort. Four of the prisoners were forgers, two were lunatics, and one was a man who had been incarcerated at the request of his own family. The King had already planned to tear down the ancient prison, but this was something his enemies could not afford him the honor of doing. An area also not overlooked by the tevolutionaries ew was the corrupting of the military, whether by bribery, the use of prostitutes, or outright murder. Surprisingly, Lafayette became a member of the Illuminati and joined the Revolution shortly after helping George Washington defeat the British. Lafayette vacillated back and forth between support for the Revolution and support for the Monarchy until he was forced to flee to the frontier 40 The Secret Side of History demands. It was not reform, but revolution that the where he was arrested and imprisoned by the Austrians.