Estates of the realm

In France under the ancien régime, the Estates of the realm were the three divisions of the Estates-General. The First Estate was the clergy, the Second was nobility, the Third was the commoners. In theory, all commoners were part of the Third Estate. In practice, during the period where there was a division of France into estates, of the commoners only the bourgeoisie were represented. The division of the French realm into estates was abolished during the first months of the French Revolution.

See also

• Estates-General
• Riksdag of the Estates (Sweden)
• Diet of Finland (Grand Duchy of Finland)
• Fourth Estate