What happened at the Champ de Mars on July 17, 1791?

On July 17, 1791, a crowd of petitioners gathered on the Champ de Mars in Paris to demand the abdication of King Louis XVI following his failed attempt to flee the country.12

In response to the demonstration, authorities ordered the National Guard, which was under the command of the Marquis de Lafayette, to disperse the protesters. The guards opened fire on the crowd, resulting in the deaths or injuries of approximately 50 demonstrators. This violent incident, often referred to as a riot, significantly damaged Lafayette’s public popularity and influence, leading to his resignation from the guard in October of that year. The event also exacerbated political tensions, contributing to a split within the Jacobin Club and the formation of the Club of the Feuillants.123