<P> At this point, the Bastille was nearly empty, housing only seven prisoners: four forgers, two "lunatics" and one "deviant" aristocrat, the Comte de Solages (the Marquis de Sade had been transferred out ten days earlier). </P> <P> The high cost of maintaining a garrisoned medieval fortress, for what was seen as having a limited purpose, had led to a decision being made shortly before the disturbances began to replace it with an open public space . Amid the tensions of July 1789, the building remained as a symbol of royal tyranny . </P> <P> The regular garrison consisted of 82 invalides (veteran soldiers no longer suitable for service in the field). It had however been reinforced on 7 July by 32 grenadiers of the Swiss Salis - Samade Regiment from the regular troops on the Champ de Mars . The walls mounted 18 eight - pound guns and 12 smaller pieces . The governor was Bernard - René de Launay, son of the previous governor and actually born within the Bastille . </P> <P> The official list of vainqueurs de la Bastille (conquerors of the Bastille) subsequently compiled has 954 names, and the total of the crowd was probably fewer than one thousand . A breakdown of occupations included in the list indicates that the majority were local artisans, together with some regular army deserters and a few distinctive categories such as 21 wine merchants . </P>

Why were there only 7 prisoners in the bastille