Thirty-two Swiss grenadiers reinforced the Bastille defenders before 14 July 1789. They were sent to the fortress on 7 July from the Swiss Salis-Samade Regiment, which was stationed with royal troops near the Champ de Mars.
The reinforcement reflected the growing crisis in Paris. The Bastille held a valuable store of gunpowder and represented royal authority, while unrest was spreading after the dismissal of finance minister Jacques Necker and clashes between crowds and royal troops.
These 32 men joined 82 Invalides, veteran soldiers who formed the Bastille’s regular garrison. Together, the garrison nominally numbered 114 soldiers, although the Swiss contingent was not enough to make the fortress impregnable.
The numbers are often confused because 82 was the number of Invalides and 114 was the combined garrison figure. The 61 figure associated with the event refers instead to French Guards among the insurgent forces, not to Swiss reinforcements.