“Abattez la citadelle !” meme: meaning, origin and rare card

What does the “Abattez la citadelle !” meme mean?

The phrase urges people to overthrow an established order and do better than their predecessors. Detached from politics, it becomes a theatrical pep cry used to motivate yourself, rally a team or affectionately mock a grand speech. Its appeal lies in the oratorical sweep and the image of a fortress to storm. Depending on who quotes it, it reads as a tribute, a parody or a simple stylistic flourish.

Where does the “Abattez la citadelle !” meme come from?

The clip comes from an exchange with Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a guest of the Backseat team at the Fête de l’Humanité on 15 September 2023. The politician addresses younger generations and invites them to tear down the citadel and do better than what his own generation leaves them. Backseat posted the interview online and several channels reposted the moment as a short excerpt. The line then circulated on its own, reused on social media for its solemn tone and strong image.

1. 15 September 2023Jean-Luc Mélenchon speaks the line during a Backseat interview at the Fête de l’Humanité.

How to use the “Abattez la citadelle !” meme

• Shout it to pump up a team before a match.
• Caption a photo of a sandcastle or a tower of blocks.
• Use it figuratively before a big clear-out.
• Borrow the solemn tone for a trivial announcement.

The “Abattez la citadelle !” card in MyMemeCards

Number	No. 1285
Rarity	Rare
Collection	Memes FR pack
Fame	50/100 · #753 of 3496
Recycle value	10 MemeCoins (30 in Shiny)
Suggested by	@arracheurdanus

How to get the “Abattez la citadelle !” card

Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; Abattez la citadelle ! comes out of the Memes FR pack as a rare card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.

Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 10 MemeCoins.

The reprint of the “Abattez la citadelle !” card

The “Abattez la citadelle !” card was reprinted as Epic (No. 3,878). A reprint is the same meme printed again, with a number of its own and a higher rarity than its first printing, which was rare. Its face reads “Reprinted card · Higher rarity”.

Every printing is dealt in the packs of the Memes FR pack, each at its own rarity: the higher it is, the rarer the card is to pull. Copies of the first printing already pulled stay as they are, and any printing counts toward completing a set.

MyMemeCards reprints a meme when it deserves more than the rarity of its first printing, such as a classic that became iconic after it came out: the reprint gives it a place among the most sought-after cards without taking anything from the players who already had it.

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