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Origin and history

The prison of the Force originates in the mansion of the Duke of the Force, built in the 16th century on the ruins of a medieval palace belonging to Charles of Anjou, brother of Saint Louis. In 1698 the hotel was divided into two parts: the Hotel de Chavigny (now fire station on Rue de Sévigné) and the Hotel de La Force. The latter, purchased by the State in 1754 after various owners, was transformed in 1780 into a modern house of detention under Louis XVI, in response to criticisms of the unsanitary nature of Parisian prisons such as For-l'Evêque or Petit-Châtelet. The prison was divided into two sections: the Grande-Force pour les hommes and the Petite-Force pour les femmes, with new facilities for the period (walking courses, separate infirmaries, aired dormitories).

During the French Revolution, the prison became a symbol of the excesses of Terror. In September 1792, during the Massacres of September, hundreds of political prisoners were summarily tried and executed, including the Princess of Lamballe, close to Marie-Antoinette. The prison then housed opponents of the regime, nobles, but also ordinary criminals. Under the Executive Board and the Empire, it retained its reputation of rigor, welcoming political prisoners such as General Malet or girondin deputies. The conditions, although better than elsewhere, remained harsh, with cachots criticized for their insanity.

In the 19th century, the Force prison became a place of detention for political opponents (such as Béranger under Charles X) and prostitutes, the latter being grouped in the Petite-Force from 1828. Despite successive improvements, the old building was finally demolished in 1845 and replaced by Mazas prison. Today there is only a section of Malher Street wall and a walled window in the courtyard of the Sévigné barracks, classified as historical monuments in 1935. The prison marked collective memory, inspiring literary works such as Victor Hugo's Les Misérables or Dumas' Le Comte de Monte-Cristo.

The Force Prison was also a pioneer prison reform site in the 18th century, inspired by thinkers like John Howard. The records of the time show a willingness to humanize conditions of detention (regular food, gender separation, walking spaces), although these efforts have been limited by overcrowding and political crises. During the Restoration, it was used to suppress Bonapartist or Republican opponents, reflecting the social tensions of the time. Its architectural and historical heritage makes it a key witness to prison developments in France.

In popular culture, the prison is associated with famous figures such as Evarist Galois (mathematician briefly imprisoned in 1832) or notorious criminals such as Lacenaire. Writers novelized his atmosphere, between misery and grandeur, such as Eugene Sue in Les Mysteries de Paris or Balzac in Splendeurs et Misères des courtisanes. The current, though minimal, remains recall its central role in the judicial and revolutionary history of Paris, between enlightened reforms and political violence.

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