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Assembly of Notables, Charles-Alexandre de Calonne, Feudalism, Guillaume de Machaut, Louis XVI, taxation, The Tennis-Court Oath, the Three classes
A 13th-century French representation of the tripartite social order of the middle ages – Oratores: “those who pray”, Bellatores: “those who fight”, and Laboratores: “those who work”. (Caption and photo credit: Wikipedia)
“Cleric, Knight and Workman representing the three classes”, a French School illustration from Li Livres dou Santé (late 13th century, vellum), MS Sloane 2435, folio 85, British Library/Bridgeman Art Library.
This lovely historiated initial, shows France’s three classes. Not only did the third estate, le Tiers État, work, but it also paid the taxes that supported the clergy, the first estate, and the nobility, the second estate. During the last quarter of the 18th-century, France was near bankrupcy, mostly because of its recent financial contribution to North-American colonists seeking independence from Britain.
France could have helped the North-American colonists, but absolutism and Louis XV’s profligacy had strained and humiliated France. In 1763, it lost New France.
In 1787, Charles-Alexandre de Calonne, the controller-general of finances, asked Louis XVI to summon an Assembly of Notables, members of which Calonne hand-picked. Charles-Alexandre de Calonne did not think that his plan, the taxation of the property of nobles and clergy, would be approved by the Parlement of Paris. His predecessors had failed in this regard. The Assembly of Notables refused Calonne’s proposal and Louis XVI dismissed his controller-general of finances. Calonne had to flee to England.
Charles-Alexandre de Calonne had also suggested that Louis XVI convene the Estates-General. Louis XVI did not do so until 1789. They first met on 5 May 1789.
One morning, Louis XVI had the doors to the room where he met delegates locked. Delegates repaired to an indoor tennis court where they swore
not to separate, and to reassemble wherever circumstances require, until the constitution of the kingdom is established and affirmed on solid foundations. Such was the ‘spirit’ of the Revolution.
(See The Tennis Court Oath)
The French Revolution had begun. Feudalism, in France, was abolished on 4 August 1789.
Feudalism (Micheline’s images)
RELATED ARTICLE
- The Tennis Court Oath (8 February 2014)
Love to everyone. ♥
Le Serment du Jeu de paume, Jacques-Louis David
© Micheline Walker
30 July 2018
(updated 31 July 2018)
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Interesting point about the reason for France’s near bankruptcy
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Yes Derrick, and it is true. France nearly went bankrupt because it helped colonists in North America. France’s defeat in the Seven Year’s War had humiliated the French, the military in particular. However, France would not have faced bankruptcy had Louis XV done his work. France could have helped the North American colonists had it had money. It didn’t.
There grew a very real bond between France and the United States, a bond that will not be easily broken. The United States helped France regain its freedom when Hitler invaded it. Moreover, the United States helped rebuild Europe after the Nazis were eliminated. It’s a complex issue. Thank you Derrick.
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J’aime bien l’expression “indoors tennis court” pour désigner la salle du jeu de paume.
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Les jeux de paume ont joué plusieurs rôles. Il y avait au dix-septième des théâtres de jeu de paume, dont Molière s’est servi. Que je sache, le jeu de paume est un ancêtre du tennis. On se servait de la paume de la main qui aurait été remplacée par une raquette. Vous êtes gentil de m’avoir écrit. 🙂
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