POLITICAL CRISIS (CONT)

BRIENNE AND THE PARLEMENT

O When was the Assembly of Notables dissolved?

O Why? O Who took over as finance Minister? O When?

BRIENNE’S ACTIONSO Proposed new reform: maintained

Calonne’s land tax but modified other reforms

O Brienne took the royal edict to the Parlement of Paris to make it law

O What do you think happened? Why?

BEFORE WE CONTINUE WITH THE STORY – WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE ROLE

OF THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

ROLE OF THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS

O Who do you think worked for the Parlement of Paris? (Think about the system of privilege…position acquired by birth or paid for office)

O Sovereign Court of Appeal O Register royal edicts so they became lawO Scrutinise royal edicts – ‘maintain the citizens

in the enjoyment of rights which the laws assure them’O Right to remonstrance! (point out any defects

– rally public opposition)O They did not have the power to reject

the King’s edicts

PARLEMENT REJECTS TAXES

O Rejection: 2 July 1787O Only an Estates General had the right to

determine need for tax reform (therefore those who must bear the taxes must approve)

O 6 August 1787 – Louis XVI uses Lit de Justice

O Parlement declared Louis’ action invalidO 15 August 1787 – Louis exiled the Parlement to

Troyes – popular uprisings followedO Mid September – compromise met: Brienne’s

tax reform modified and Parlement passed it.

The situation remained fragile. Co-operation

between the Monarchy and the Parlement hinged on

D_ _L_M_C_!!O France still had debts to pay and loans to take out –

these needed to be approved by the ParlementO Louis XVI’s options:

O Play ball (perhaps be submissive to get his way)O Play the Authoritarian card (reiterate his absolute

authority and order the Parlement to do as asked)

LOUIS v PARLEMENTO Brienne forced to make cutbacksO He needed to borrow 420 million

livres (1788-1792) to pay off short-term debts

O In return, Brienne agreed to calling of the Estates General by 1792

WAS THE PARLEMENT PUSHING LOUIS TOO FAR?

ROYAL SESSION – 19 NOV 1787

O Reiteration of the King’s absolute authority: “Sovereign power in his kingdom belongs to the King alone…legislative power resides on the person of the

sovereign” (Lamoignan – Minister for Justice)O Louis ordered loans to be immediately

registeredO Duc d’Orleans pronounced Louis’ action

illegalO Louis replied: “That is of no importance to

me…It is legal because I will it”

BEGINNINGS OF REVOLUTION

O Parlement refused to register loansO Lettres de Cachet for the Duc D’OrleansO Find a quote on page 40 (HTAV) that

demonstrates Louis’ sentimentsO How did the magistrates respond? (page 40)O Magistrates arrested (11 hour stand-off)O 8 May 1788 – Lit de justice to replace

Parlements with Plenary Court to register royal decrees

O The Monarchy/Absolutism had won…for now

POPULAR REVOLTS: THE DAY OF TILES

O Popular call for Magistrates’ and Parlement’s return

O Provincial Parlements and urban dwellers supported the Paris Parlement – demands for an Estates General

O Provincial magistrates exiled – Lettres de Cachet

O Grenoble 10 June 1788 – people stood on roofs and threw tiles on soldiers who came to arrest magistrates. 2 people killed

THIS SIGNIFIED THE BREAKDOWN OF ROYAL AUTHORITY. INCENTIVE FOR

FURTHER ACTION.

RIOTS/PROTESTS CONTINUE

O Riots in Paris, Rennes, Pau and Dijon – food crisisO More arrests – this time nobility who asked for

royal minister to be condemnedO Hostile pamphlets attacking Ministers (534 May-

Sep)O Clergy – did not pay Don gratuit

5 JULY 1788 – BRIENNE ANNOUNCES THAT THE KING WOULD WELCOME SUBMISSIONS FOR THE COMPOSITION OF THE ESTATES-

GENERAL

BANKRUPTCYO 400 000 livres left in treasury (enough for “one

afternoon” Schama)O 13 July 1788 – massive hail storm destroyed much

of the grain harvest around Paris – therefore tax revenues to be lower in coming year

8 AUGUST 1788 – LOUIS XVI ANNOUNCES CALLING OF THE ESTATES GENERAL FOR 1 MAY 1789

O 16 August – suspension of all payments to bureaucracy, army and repayment of foreign debts

O 24 August – Brienne resigns and Necker returns

TO DOO Ensure your timeline is up to date

with: O Events (Parlement of Paris, Royal

Session, Day of Tiles, Bankruptcy)O Evidence (statistics, figures, quotes

and facts)