The Festival of Federation
The Oath of Lafayette at the Festival of the Federation 14th July 1790 by Jacques Louis David
The Festival of Federation (Fête de la Fédération) was a celebration to mark the events of the first year of the revolution. It was to be centred on July 14th marking the one year anniversary of the fall of the Bastille. Many saw the year as the successful evolution from absolute monarch through to a constitutional monarch at the head of a democratic parliament.
The celebrations main national focus point was in and around Paris. At the Champ de Mars thousands of volunteers arrived to help aid the construction of a temporary stadium to house the celebrations. On the day itself representatives from all the National Guard units marched under banners from the various departments. A mass was carried out by the far from committed Charles Maurice de Talleyrand. This was followed by Lafayette leading the Assembly in an oath to the constitution (which had at this point not been ratified). The King would also swear to uphold the constitution as symbolically and importantly the “King of the French” not King of France.
William Short the American chargé d'affaires discusses the Fete de federation. Taken from Witnesses to the Revolution American and British Commentators in France 1788-1794, Weidenfeld and Nicolson (1989) p113
The deputies are arriving from all parts of France for the 14th. Besides those who are deputed, a great number of others come as spectators. It began to be feared that the works of Champs de Mars would not be finished in time. Some volunteers went to assist the workmen employed. This spread like a flame through Paris and people of both sexes and of all ranks and descriptions flock there to work….Many arms and legs have been broken in the confusion.