Improvised Weapons:
* Pikes: These were the most common weapon, often made from whatever was available - sharpened sticks, poles, or even broom handles with blades attached.
* Swords and bayonets: These were less common, and often looted from guards or soldiers they encountered.
* Knives, axes, and other tools: These were used as close-combat weapons.
* Rocks, stones, and anything else throwable: Peasants used anything they could find to throw at the Bastille's defenders.
* Gunpowder and other explosives: Some accounts mention the use of gunpowder and bombs, possibly stolen from nearby gunpowder factories.
Firearms:
* Muskets: These were less common, as most peasants were not trained in their use, and they were difficult to acquire.
* Pistols: A few individuals might have had pistols.
It's important to note:
* The storming of the Bastille was a chaotic and desperate event. The peasants were not a well-organized army, and their weapons were largely makeshift.
* Their success was due to their sheer numbers, determination, and the unexpected vulnerability of the Bastille's defenses.
The use of weapons during the storming of the Bastille highlights the desperation and lack of resources faced by the Parisian populace during the French Revolution.