The assembly of the representatives of the three orders, or estates, of the realm: namely, the clergy, the nobility, and the Tiers-Etat. It was convoked by the king in times of royal weakness and national emergency, usually when he needed to seek consent to fiscal subsidies. Both the system of election and the number of deputies varied, and voting was by estate. Meetings usually lasted several weeks and the king would promise redress of grievances presented in cahiers de doléances drawn up by bailliage and then by estate. Assemblies were held in 1302, 1347, 1355-7, 1380, 1413, annually from 1423 to 1439, 1468, 1484, 1506, 1560, 1561, 1576, 1588, 1593 (convoked by the Catholic Ligue), 1614, and 1789 [see Revolution, Ia].
[Peter Campbell]
