Estates-General
Pre-revolutionary French parliament
The Estates-General was the representative assembly of pre-revolutionary France, comprising three orders: clergy, nobility, and commoners.
Rarely convened by the monarchy, its 1789 召集 after 175 years of dormancy triggered the French Revolution when the Third Estate broke away to form the National Assembly.
Similar bodies existed elsewhere in Europe.
Late eighteenth century
- convocationFormal ceremonial gathering
- grievancesFelt wrongs or injustices
- VersaillesFrench royal palace complex
- National AssemblyA nation's legislative body
Louis XVI · oath · deputies · delegates · commoners · nobility · clergy · voting
Constructing from components
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- feudalOf tiered landownership
- estatesLarge property holdings
- advisoryNotice recommending action
taxation · consent · monarch · France · Netherlands · representation · nobility · clergy
Ordained religious officials collectively
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- commonersOrdinary citizens, untitled
- ordersInstructions to obey
- votingFormally registering a choice
representation · chambers · deputies · delegates · hierarchy · composition · membership · privileges
Northwestern European constitutional monarchy
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- bicameralHaving two chambers
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
- HagueDutch administrative capital
republic · provinces · confederation · sovereignty · Holland · federation · assembly · Dutch
1789
Late eighteenth century
- convocationFormal ceremonial gathering
- grievancesFelt wrongs or injustices
- VersaillesFrench royal palace complex
Louis XVI · National Assembly · oath · deputies · delegates · commoners · nobility · clergy · voting · reform
assembly
Constructing from components
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- feudalOf tiered landownership
- estatesLarge property holdings
advisory · taxation · consent · monarch · France · Netherlands · representation · nobility · clergy · burghers
clergy
Ordained religious officials collectively
voting · representation · chambers · deputies · delegates · hierarchy · composition · membership · privileges · grievances
Netherlands
Northwestern European constitutional monarchy
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- bicameralHaving two chambers
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
Hague · republic · provinces · confederation · sovereignty · Holland · federation · assembly · Dutch · government
- French RevolutionBastille, guillotine, Robespierre, French Revolution, Marie Antoinette
- assembliesdelegates, gathering, Roman Senate, sessions, debates
- Medieval FranceValois, Philip II, Charles VII, Saint Louis, Joan of Arc
- Pre-Revolutionary FranceLouis XV, Louis XVI, Versailles, Madame de Pompadour, court life
- Valois FranceCharles VII, Henry II, Catherine de Medici, dauphin, dauphine
- medieval governancefeudal hierarchy, vassalage, lordship, commons, royal authority
Estates-GeneralHouse of Commons
Elected parliamentary chamber
National Assembly · Congress · British Parliament · Reichstag · U.S. Congress
Estates-Generalabsolute monarchy
Unrestricted single-ruler government
Louis XIV · divine right · autocracy · Sun King · despotism
Estates-GeneralNational Assembly
A nation's legislative body
Convention · popular sovereignty · direct democracy · Republic