Ancien Régime
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| - | [[Image:Cardinal Armand de Rohan-Soubise.gif|thumb|200px|''[[Cardinal Armand de Rohan-Soubise]]'' by [[anonymous]] | ||
| - | <br> | ||
| - | Anonymous [[satirical]] [[caricature]] of the Cardinal Armand de Rohan-Soubise (1717-1757); this engraving is a good example of "[[pornography]]" as a tool for political [[subversion]] during France's [[ancien régime]]. | ||
| - | ]] | ||
| {{Template}} | {{Template}} | ||
| - | :''[[The Forbidden Best-Sellers of Pre-Revolutionary France]]'' | + | |
| - | The '''Ancien Régime''' (also known as '''pre-revolutionary France'''), a [[French language|French]] term rendered in [[English language|English]] as "Old Rule," "Old Order," or simply "Old Regime", refers primarily to the [[aristocracy|aristocratic]], [[sociology|social]] and [[politics|political]] system established in [[France]] from (roughly) the [[15th century]] to the [[18th century]] under the [[Valois Dynasty|late Valois]] and [[House of Bourbon|Bourbon]] dynasties. The administrative and social structures of the Ancien Régime were the result of centuries of nation-building, legislative acts (like the [[Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts]]), internal conflicts and civil wars, but they remained a confusing patchwork of local [[privilege]] and historic differences until the [[French Revolution]] brought about a radical suppression of administrative incoherence. | + | '''''Ancien Régime'''''(also known as '''pre-revolutionary France'''), refers primarily to the [[aristocracy|aristocratic]], [[sociology|social]], and [[politics|political]] system established in [[France]] under the [[Valois Dynasty|Valois]] and [[House of Bourbon|Bourbon]] dynasties (14th century to 18th century). The term is [[French language|French]] for "Former Regime," but rendered in [[English language|English]] as "Old (or Ancient) Regime", "Old Order," or "Old Rule". |
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| + | As defined by the creators of the term, the Ancien Régime developed out of the French monarchy of the [[France in the Middle Ages|Middle Ages]], and was swept away centuries later by the [[French Revolution]] of 1789. More generally, ''ancien régime'' refers to any political and social system having the principal features of the French Ancien Regime. [[Europe]]'s other ''anciens régimes'' had similar origins, but diverse fates: some eventually evolved into [[constitutional monarchy|constitutional monarchies]], whereas others were torn down by wars and revolutions. | ||
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| + | Power in the Ancien Régime relied on three pillars: the [[monarchy]], the [[clergy]], and the [[aristocracy]]. Society was divided into three [[Estates of the realm]]: the [[First Estate]], [[Roman Catholic]] clergy; the [[Second Estate]], the nobility; and the [[Third Estate]], the rest of the population. | ||
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| + | The Ancien Régime retained many aspects of a [[feudalism|feudal]] system that had existed since at least the 8th century, in particular [[nobility|noble]] and [[aristocracy|aristocratic]] privilege, and was supported by the doctrine of the [[Divine Right of Kings]]. It differed from that earlier feudal order in that political power had increasingly become concentrated in an [[absolute monarchy|absolute monarch]]. | ||
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| + | The term dates from the [[Age of Enlightenment]] (first appearing in print in English in 1794) and was originally [[pejorative]] in nature. Similar to other sweeping criticisms of the past, such as the consciously disparaging term [[Dark Ages]] for what is more commonly known as the [[Middle Ages]], ''ancien regime'' was not a neutral historical descriptor. It was created by the French Revolutionaries to promote their cause, coloring pre-revolutionary society with disapproval and implying approval of a "New Order". | ||
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| + | For some authors, though, the term came to denote a certain nostalgia. [[Talleyrand]] famously quipped: | ||
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| + | :''Celui qui n'a pas vécu au dix-huitième siècle avant la Révolution ne connaît pas la douceur de vivre'' | ||
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| + | The reason for this affection was the perceived decline in culture and values following the Revolution, where the aristocracy lost much of its economic and political power to what was seen as a rich, but coarse and materialistic bourgeoise. The theme recurs throughout nineteenth-century French literature, with Balzac and Flaubert alike attacking the mores of the new upper classes. To this mindset, the Ancien Régime expressed a bygone era of refinement and grace, before the Revolution and its associated changes disrupted the aristocratic tradition and ushered in a crude, uncertain modernity. | ||
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| + | The historian [[Alexis de Tocqueville]] argued against this defining narrative in his [[The Old Regime and the Revolution|classic study]], highlighting the continuities between pre- and post- | ||
| + | revolutionary French institutions. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The analogous term ''"Antiguo Régimen"'' is often used in [[Spanish language|Spanish]]. However, although [[Spain]] was strongly affected by the French Revolution and its aftermath, the break was not as sharp as in France. | ||
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| == See also == | == See also == | ||
| - | *[[Royal privilege]]s | ||
| *[[Absolute monarchy]] | *[[Absolute monarchy]] | ||
| *[[French Revolution]] | *[[French Revolution]] | ||
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| **[[Au moment où la Révolution française éclata, la noblesse française était une race physiquement diminuée]] | **[[Au moment où la Révolution française éclata, la noblesse française était une race physiquement diminuée]] | ||
| *[[Early Modern France]] | *[[Early Modern France]] | ||
| - | ==See also== | ||
| * [[Early Modern Europe]] | * [[Early Modern Europe]] | ||
| + | *''[[The Forbidden Best-Sellers of Pre-Revolutionary France]]'' | ||
| * [[French Enlightenment]] | * [[French Enlightenment]] | ||
| + | *[[Royal privilege]]s | ||
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
Revision as of 19:28, 23 December 2011
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Ancien Régime(also known as pre-revolutionary France), refers primarily to the aristocratic, social, and political system established in France under the Valois and Bourbon dynasties (14th century to 18th century). The term is French for "Former Regime," but rendered in English as "Old (or Ancient) Regime", "Old Order," or "Old Rule".
As defined by the creators of the term, the Ancien Régime developed out of the French monarchy of the Middle Ages, and was swept away centuries later by the French Revolution of 1789. More generally, ancien régime refers to any political and social system having the principal features of the French Ancien Regime. Europe's other anciens régimes had similar origins, but diverse fates: some eventually evolved into constitutional monarchies, whereas others were torn down by wars and revolutions.
Power in the Ancien Régime relied on three pillars: the monarchy, the clergy, and the aristocracy. Society was divided into three Estates of the realm: the First Estate, Roman Catholic clergy; the Second Estate, the nobility; and the Third Estate, the rest of the population.
The Ancien Régime retained many aspects of a feudal system that had existed since at least the 8th century, in particular noble and aristocratic privilege, and was supported by the doctrine of the Divine Right of Kings. It differed from that earlier feudal order in that political power had increasingly become concentrated in an absolute monarch.
The term dates from the Age of Enlightenment (first appearing in print in English in 1794) and was originally pejorative in nature. Similar to other sweeping criticisms of the past, such as the consciously disparaging term Dark Ages for what is more commonly known as the Middle Ages, ancien regime was not a neutral historical descriptor. It was created by the French Revolutionaries to promote their cause, coloring pre-revolutionary society with disapproval and implying approval of a "New Order".
For some authors, though, the term came to denote a certain nostalgia. Talleyrand famously quipped:
- Celui qui n'a pas vécu au dix-huitième siècle avant la Révolution ne connaît pas la douceur de vivre
The reason for this affection was the perceived decline in culture and values following the Revolution, where the aristocracy lost much of its economic and political power to what was seen as a rich, but coarse and materialistic bourgeoise. The theme recurs throughout nineteenth-century French literature, with Balzac and Flaubert alike attacking the mores of the new upper classes. To this mindset, the Ancien Régime expressed a bygone era of refinement and grace, before the Revolution and its associated changes disrupted the aristocratic tradition and ushered in a crude, uncertain modernity.
The historian Alexis de Tocqueville argued against this defining narrative in his classic study, highlighting the continuities between pre- and post- revolutionary French institutions.
The analogous term "Antiguo Régimen" is often used in Spanish. However, although Spain was strongly affected by the French Revolution and its aftermath, the break was not as sharp as in France.
See also
- Absolute monarchy
- French Revolution
- Causes of the French Revolution
- Early Modern France
- Early Modern Europe
- The Forbidden Best-Sellers of Pre-Revolutionary France
- French Enlightenment
- Royal privileges
