May 1789

The day was finally here. The Kingdom was to convene, in Versailles in the Month of May. The Estates General has not met in over a hundred years, last being in 1626. Being on the verge of bankruptcy, and unable to pass legislation through the Parlement, Louis XVI was forced to convene the Estates General, with the hopes of passing the legislation required through this body.

The people of France, upset and angry with the King, have elected officials to represent them, in the Third Estate, who seek to reform the system. The King convening the Estates General, to them, is a sign that change is in the air. Perhaps, the King will relinquish some of his absolute authority to pass the necessary reforms.

The Second Estate, the Nobles, are largely apathetic to the plight of the people. Seeking to increase their own influence in the face of an autocratic king, the Nobles have quite the chip on their shoulder.

The First Estate, the Clergy, has long been a strong supporter of the King, at least, in the hierarchy of the church. The First Estate, however, is appointed by election, not by position in the church, and as such, it is the lesser parishioners and lower clergy who decide who represents them. Many of them are upset at the corruption and exclusivity of the higher echelons of the church, and, much like the Third Estate, seek reforms.

The Third Estate are not made up of mere commoners, but people of prominence, who are able to get the masses to vote for them. In order to attend the Estates General, one must pay their own way to Versailles, and look after their own accomodations. As a result, popularist nobles, and wealthy bourgeoisie are the vast majority of those elected.

A concern had come up, in the months preceding the Estates General. The body consisted of three Estates, divided into their three respective positions in society. The First Estate being the Clergy, the Second being the Nobles, and the Third being the Commoners. In the months leading up to the Estates General, questions were raised concerning the procedure of this new Estates General. In the days of old, the Three Estates were of equal size, despite the Third Estate being orders of magnitude larger in size than the other Estates. In addition, vote was counted by Estate, rather than by the individual. Each Estate voted on a matter between themselves, then, by majority, a single vote was cast for that Estate. The result was that despite having orders of magnitude more people in said estate, and having a say of their own, if the First Two Estates decided, they could override whatever the Commons had to say 2-1. Protests and riots broke out, after the Kingdom relaxed press laws, and many campaigned for "Double the Third Estate, vote by head". The King relented, and promised that the Third Estate would have twice the candidates.

As May loomed closer, the entire Kingdom of France sat on the edges of their seats, to watch these some 300 men convene, to decide the fate of the Nation.

2 May

The Estates General traditionally opens with a grand ceremony for the King to welcome his subjects. For the First and Second Estates, this meant a long procession, filled with pomp and grandeur. For the Third Estate, however, this meant mandatory subservience, in attire and attitude. Relegated to the sidelines of the ceremony, the Third Estate was slighted by the King. Such would set the tone of the events in the future.

5 May

The King opened the Estates General with a formal ceremony, and in his speech to the Estates, he stated the reason for convening. Confusion still reigned, however, as the delegates did not know how voting would be conducted. Would it be by head, as the people outside clamour for? Or would it be by Estate, as in the days of old? The King did not say, though he did talk a great deal about the importance of economic reforms. It seemed as if the King was not interested in the plight of the people.

6 May

The next day, the Keeper of the Seals announced that the voting would indeed be by Estate, as it was done in the days of old. The Third Estate had it's number doubled, being some 600 members, as opposed to the 300 of the other two, but their increased size did not mean an increased influence. The Third Estate was furious.

It was time for the Estates to conduct a roll call. The Second Estate suggested that the Three Estates conduct their business separately, as was tradition. The Third Estate, however, refused, demanding that all three should meet together. Neither side budged, and an impasse was reached. The Comte de Mirabeau, a Noble elected to the Third Estate, tried, and failed, to keep the Second Estate in the same building. They, and the First Estate, both left, leaving the Third Estate in the main hall, alone. Despite inviting the other two Estates to join the Third, they refused.

Instead of discussing the King's tax reforms, the three Estates instead began discussing the procedure and protocol of the Estates General, much to the King's chagrin.

11 May

The Clergy, invited once more to join the Third Estate, hesitate, and cease their verification procedures, and instead return to debating the organization and procedure of the Estates General, the primary issue, of course, being whether or not to join the Third Estate in the main hall. The Nobles refuse, again.

20 May

The Clergy, discussing matters in general, accept some of Financial Minister Necker's reforms, and renounce all special tax privileges, accepting the principal of fiscal equality.

22 May

The Nobles, too, renounce all special tax privileges, accepting fiscal equality. Despite this progress, however, the King and Necker are not able to get the Three Estates to agree on a common program for implementing reforms. Debate resumes as to the nature of the Estates General as a whole.

25 May

The deputies from Paris arrive. The Parisian deputies are late, due to issues with the election process. Joining their comrades in the Third Estate, many of these deputies are far more radical than their provincial cousins. Paris, being the largest city, has an enormous amount of urban poor, upset at the lack of food. Overjoyed at the progress made thus far, and enraged at the events transpired thus far, these men begin to sew their radical ideas among the Third Estate.

27 May

The Abbé Siyès, elected as a member of the Third Estate, proposes that the Third Estate should rename itself to Les Communes, to elect a leader to represent themselves and to dictate procedure, and the proceed with verification, inviting the others to join them, but proceeding nonetheless. The Third Estate agrees.

3 June

The scientist, Jean Sylvain Bailly, is chosen as the leader for the Third Estate. One of the Parisian delegates, it becomes clear that the radical, populist Parisians are winning influence over the Third Estate.

4 June

Disaster strikes the Royal Family! Louis Joseph Xavier François, Dapuhin of France, dies at the age of 7, after a period of illness. The cause of death is determined to be Consumption. The King, distraught at the death of his son, becomes disinterested with politics, and withdraws.

6 June

The Three Estates refuse a compromise bill proposed by FIniancial Minister Necker. The King, disinterested, pays them no mind.

13 June

The Third Estate had, after much deliberation, arrived at a resolution to examine and settle the powers of the three orders. They invited the First and Second Estates once again to join them. Nine Clergymen from the First Estate elect to join them.

17 June

On suggestion of the Abbé Siyès, the Third Estate, now joined by some members of the Second Estate, decide that the name 'Les Communes' is no longer appropriate. They decide to style themselves The National Assembly.

19 June

By a vote of 149 to 137, the deputies of the Third Estate join the National Assembly. The incoming clergymen are greeting with cheers and goodwill. Progress is being made!

20 June

The newly renamed National Assembly approach the meeting hall on the morning of the Twentieth, to find the doors barred and soldiers posted at the doors. The King had locked them out. Infuriated, the National Assembly convene in the nearest building available, a nearby tennis court.

It is unsure as to whether the King was intentionally trying to disband the National Assembly, or simply trying to get the Three Estates to convene as one, and to finally sort out the financial issues. Distracted by the death of his son, Louis XVI made an error.

Gathered in the tennis court, the men of the National Assembly swear to not cease their conventions until they have given France a new constitution. The Tennis Court Oath will become one of the most important moments in the years to come.

21 June

Approaching the Royal Council, Necker is desperate to have some kind of reforms passed. Looking at his compromise bill, the Royal Council reject it outright.

22 June

Vacating the Tennis Court, the National Assembly then decides to convene in the narby Church of Saint Louis. The vast majority of the Clergy attend, as do two members of the First Estate, one of which is the Duc d'Orleans, Louis Phillipe II.

23 June

Infuriated at the lack of progress, the King holds a Séance royale, forcing all three Estates into the main hall. He then vetoes anything the National Assembly has done, and orders that the Three Estates must meet separately. After the King has left, however, the National Assembly refuses to leave. The National Assembly then declares that they cannot be legally arrested. The King meekly agrees, and returns to grieving.

25 June

Headed by Louis Phillipe, 48 nobles join the National Assembly, to a great deal of excitement.

27 June

Perhaps sensing the change in the air, the King reverses course, and orders the First and Second Estates in their entirety to meet with the 'National Assembly'. Louis also recognizes the National Assembly as valid. At the same time, however, Louis orders troops, mostly Swiss mercenaries, to Paris.

30 June

Sparked by the price of bread, riots break out in Paris. In the riot, the prison in the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, freeing soldiers who were imprisoned for attending political club meetings. Additionally, vast amounts of grain are found in the stores of the Abbey, stoking the conspiracy theory that the upper classes are intentionally starving the poor.