The Estates-General: Impact on the French Revolution

The Estates-General was a fundamental institution in France before the Revolution, deeply rooted in the country’s medieval past. It played a crucial role in shaping the power dynamics between the monarchy, the nobility, the clergy, and the common people. To understand its significance, it is essential to explore the feudal system, the structure of the three estates, and how previous assemblies influenced its development.

France’s political and social system before the Revolution was built upon a rigid hierarchy known as the Ancien Régime. At the top sat the king, whose authority was believed to be divinely ordained. Below him were three distinct social classes, or “estates.” The First Estate consisted of the clergy, who controlled vast amounts of land and held considerable influence over religious and moral matters. The Second Estate was composed of the nobility, a privileged class that enjoyed exemptions from many taxes and held key positions in the military and government. The Third Estate, the largest and most diverse, included commoners ranging from wealthy merchants to poor peasants. This estate bore the brunt of taxation and had little political power, despite representing the majority of the population.

The Estates-General was an assembly designed to bring representatives from all three estates together to advise the king on financial and political matters. However, unlike England’s Parliament, it did not function as a legislative body with regular meetings. Instead, it was convened only at the discretion of the monarch, typically in times of crisis. This irregularity in its use meant that its influence remained limited, as kings preferred to rule without its interference. Nevertheless, the Estates-General provided a forum where grievances could be voiced, and it occasionally pressured the monarchy into making concessions.

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Lydbok: 29. mars 2025