Lecture 1 The Three Estates 2022 Student

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
The French Revolution
Detail From Triumph of Marat, Boilly, 1794 (Musee des Beaux-Arts)

The Key Figures – Louis XVI
• Married at 15, Marie-Antoinette was
14.
• King at 20 in 1774. Ruled as an absolute
monarch by divine right (answerable
only to God). Authority not limited by
any representative body, but could not
interfere with independent bodies such
as the Assembly of Clergy and
Parlements (high law courts). Sought
advice from his council of ministers in
making laws.
• Manner was formal yet was often a
practical joker “walking with his
breeches around his ankles.”
• Poor eyesight
• Loved food
Marie-Antoinette
• 15th child of Empress Marie-Theresa

of Austria. Marriage of political
convenience.
• As Austria and France had
traditionally been enemies, she was
not embraced by the French.
• Portrayed as an adulterer or lesbian
in political pornography. Liked to
pretend to be a dairymaid.
• Besty? Princess de Lamballe - “who
fainted so readily, she lost
consciousness at the sight of a
lobster in a painting” - Hibbert
The Three Estates
• Before the revolution French society (popn. 28
million) was divided into three groups:
– The first estate: the clergy
– The second estate: the nobility
– The third estate: the common people (bourgeoisie, urban
workers, and peasants).
• France was also divided in terms of language and
laws in the 18th century. Most people didn’t speak
French, but their own dialect.
• Legally the first two estates enjoyed many privileges,
particularly exemption from most taxation, including
the taille (direct tax).
The Old Regime
• This scathing cartoon
depicts the third estate in
chains supporting the
combined weight of
clergy, nobility and
royalty on his back.
The First Estate
• The first estate, the clergy, consisted of rich
and poor.
– There were very wealthy clergy who lived in
luxury from income from wealthy church lands.
– There were also poor parish priests, who lived
much like the peasants.
The First Estate
• Privilege was based on the idea that those who
prayed should be given support by the rest of society
• About 170,000 in number (0.6% popn)
• Owned 8-10% of the land in France
• All revenue exempt from tax
• “Don gratuit” voluntary donation to government
(1%) of income annually.
• King appointed bishops, archbishops- most of these
were nobles- in 1789 all bishops were of noble birth
The First Estate
• Almost all higher clergy were noble, usually younger

sons who wouldn’t inherit property and needed an
occupation (not necessarily religious)
• Generated income through the Tithes (Church tax)
• Predominantly Catholic, protestants had no legal
rights.
• Church provided some education, poor relief, hospital
provision.
The Second Estate - Nobility
•Estimates 120,000 – 150,000 (0.4% popn)

•Two main types of nobility: noblesse d’epee (nobles of the
sword), and noblesse de robe (nobles of the robe).
•Owned 30% of all land.
•Noble class was enriched by marriage of noble sons to rich
bourgeois heiresses
Noble Privileges
Opportunity Privileges
•All Louis XVI ministers were noble
•Rich nobles congregated at court, the poor stayed in the provinces
•Many bought positions in the Government through a process called
venality. Positions weren’t given on the basis of merit.
Financial Privileges
•Exempt from corvee (public service such as mending roads) or
conscription, did not pay main taxes, gabelle (salt tax), vingtieme
(5% income tax) and taille (land tax)
•Did not engage in retail trade or they faced loss of status.
Justification for tax exemptions and privileges was based on the

assumption that they defended the king in times of need. This was
becoming less common as the King relied on his own armies.
The Third Estate
• The third estate, the common people, was by far the
largest group in France (98%)
• Everyone who was not a member of the first or
second estates was a member of the third. It
included:
– Wealthy merchants, whose wealth rivaled that of the
nobility
– Doctors and lawyers
– Shopkeepers
– The urban poor
– The peasants who worked the land.
Peasant grievances
• Peasants:- About 85% of the population.

• By far the majority were Labourers, who grew
enough food to feed themselves and in a good year
had a surplus they could sell.
– Majority of peasants had some land.
– Peasants had to pay tithe to the church (8-10%),
taxes to the state (10-15%), and feudal dues (tax
in the form of produce/work) to their landlord.
The Third Estate
• Urban Workers:-
Lived in towns, crowded and unsanitary
Majority were low-skilled and poor
• Bourgeoisie
Commoners that were not urban workers or peasants, 2.3 million
(8%) of the population in 1789, this was a threefold increase since 1700.
Wealthier members of the third estate, usually well educated:
Merchants, financiers, landowners, doctors, writers, lawyers,
Were not opposed to nobility and did not question the system of
privilege, until 1788. Generally accepted noble values as their own and
wished to join the nobility

Lecture 1 The Three Estates 2022 Student

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lecture 1 The Three Estates 2022 Student

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lecture 1 The Three Estates 2022 Student

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

The French Revolution

Detail From Triumph of Marat, Boilly, 1794 (Musee des Beaux-Arts)

• 15th child of Empress Marie-Theresa

• Almost all higher clergy were noble, usually younger

•Estimates 120,000 – 150,000 (0.4% popn)

Justification for tax exemptions and privileges was based on the

• Peasants:- About 85% of the population.

You might also like