Ancien Regimè Flashcards
Who was the monarch and what were his privileges?
King Louie XVI
He was an absolute monarch which meant he had, theoretically, total power over France. In reality he took a lot of advice from his advisors who were members of the clergy and the nobility.
He ruled the country by ‘defined right’ - will of God. On his correlation he swore oath to God not to the people, not a popular move
What was controversial about Marie Antoinette marrying into the monarchy?
She was daughter of the Austrian emperor and Austria was blamed for France’s loss in the ‘7 years war’
Who were the first estate? (Clergy)
They were the bishops, archbishops, cardinals, priests etc.
They made up only 0.5% of the French population but owned around 10% of the land.
There were the higher clergy (archbishops, cardinals etc) who often worked as the king’s advisors and had a lot of power. They made up 2/3 of the clergy.
The lower clergy (parish priests) were poorly paid and less respected. They lived amongst the third estate and sympathised with their position - 149 joined the 3rd estate to form the National Assembly. 1/3 of clergy
When and where was the king born?
1754 in Versailles
What did the king do for fun and for society?
He was quite introverted and smart, he enjoyed locksmithing and playing with clocks.
He had complete control over the law, and met with individual advisors to discuss this instead of large cabinet meetings.
What was the king worried about?
He needed the consent and the support of the nobility to rule.
There were huge disparities and complexities of the law at the time. Due to the previous monarch, there were 36 areas with all different laws.
What was the clergy in charge of?
Religious life, charity, education, healthcare, record keeping. They were often corrupt and took money for themselves. Due to their corruptness, there was a growing lack of trust in the late 1700s and fewer people were joining for priesthood.
They also made an effort to build extravagant cathedrals to show the church’s power.
What privileges did the clergy have?
Exempt from conscription to military
Exempt from all tax because the church paid an annual grant of 5% income (16 million livres)
What privileges did the clergy have?
Exempt from conscription to military
Exempt from all tax because the church paid an annual grant of 5% income (16 million livres)
Who were the second estate (nobility)?
They were the people with hereditary titles (dukes, counts, barrons, viscounts, chevaliers). Most were land owners with large estates and some after 1700 (after it wasn’t shunned and the title could be stripped) were businessmen.
Very rich so lived a lavish lifestyle, wearing lavish colours.
1.5% of the population (120,000) but owned 25-33% of the land
Noblesse d’epee (nobles of the sword) had the greatest respect because their title was earned in military service, some had places in government
Noblesse do court (nobles of the court) worked and lived at Versailles and were advisors and ambassadors to the king
Noblesse de robe (nobles of the robe) titles were bought, less wealthy and lived in the countryside
Who were the Hobereax (old birds)?
Fran - cocky with nothing to be cocky about
They were part of the nobility and lived rurally in small estates. They had lost most of their land and wealth but still had the nobility privileges.
Resented the rising Bourgeoisie who outstripped them of land.
Some were landless and lived off pensions or sponsorships from other nobles
What was venality?
Venality is when a wealthy member of a third estate can pay for a title and be in the nobility
A minor office is 20,000 livres
A higher office is > 50,000 livres
It is estimated 6500 commoner families enquired noble titles in 18th century
What privileges did the nobility get?
Exempt from conscription
Exempt from the largest tax, land tax (taille)
Their other taxes were often avoided
Marquis de Lafayette
He was a noblesse d’epee who saw American liberal systems when he worked with George Washington. Him along with a lot of other high end nobles witnessed the same things and they themselves were very liberal.
It was these nobles who would be prominent leaders of the French Revolution
He died after the French revolution at someone else’s funeral lol
Who were the third estate?
The third estate was everyone else essentially. They were very widely diverse from beggars and peasants to successful businessmen.
98% of the population
Due to the industrial growth of the 18th century, some lived in the urban areas for work, but 80% lived in the countryside.
Peasants made up 82-88% of the third estate and they were either feudal tenants (worked the land) or journalists (day labourers).
