1788Royal Treasury Empty, Estates-General Called for Fiscal Reform

August 8: The royal treasury is declared empty, and the Parl...
Timelines Logo
Year
1788
1789

💰 Royal Treasury Empty, Estates-General Called for Fiscal Reform

August 8: The royal treasury is declared empty, and the Parlement of Paris refuses to reform the tax system or loan the Crown more money. To win their support for fiscal reforms, the Minister of Finance, Brienne, sets May 5, 1789, for a meeting of the Estates General, an assembly of the nobility, clergy, and commoners (the Third Estate), which has not met since 1614.
Financial CrisisEstates-GeneralBrienneTaxationRoyal FinancesParlement of ParisPolitical ReformPre-RevolutionFrench MonarchyAssembly

🏛️ Estates-General Convenes at Versailles

May 5: Formal opening of the Estates-General at Versailles.
Estates-GeneralVersaillesFrench MonarchyAssemblyPolitical CrisisRepresentationThird EstatePre-RevolutionParliamentary BodySocial Unrest