Over 50,000 people gathered in what is today the location of the Eiffel tower to sign a petition requesting the king's removal. The National Guard, looking to Lafayette for command, was ordered to try and disperse the crowd. Revolutionaries threw stones, and after giving warning shots, the Guard fired directly into the crowd, killing between twelve to fifty people.
The following consequences of ordering the National Guard to fire into the crowd had devastating effects on the reputation of Lafayette. Similar to other leaders