The Second Estate Facts & Worksheets

The Second Estate was a small collection of noble or aristocratic orders in 18th-century French society. Its male and female members held titles such as Duc (‘Duke’), Comte (‘Count’), Vicomte (‘Viscount’), Baron, or Chevalier. Members of the nobility, regardless of position, had high status and significant advantages.

See the fact file below for more information about the Second Estate, or you can download our 31-page Second Estate worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

COMPOSITION OF THE SECOND ESTATE

• Prior to the French Revolution (1789–1799), during the Ancien Regime, society was split into three distinct groups known as the Three Estates (First Estate, Second Estate, Third Estate)
• Except for the King, the Second Estate comprised France’s nobles, including royal family members. 
• Members of the Second Estate were exempt from paying taxes. They were also given particular privileges, such as wearing a sword and hunting. 
• They, like the clergy, collected taxes from the Third Estate.
• The Second Estate of France consisted of the nobility, which comprised less than 2% of the population. It was divided into two main groups:
• Noblesse d’épée (“nobility of the sword”): Members of this group had a military tradition and were typically landowners. They included dukes, counts, barons, and knights.
• Noblesse de robe (“nobility of the robe”): Members of this group were lawyers, judges, and other civil servants. They were typically highly educated and wealthy.
• Some of the most common titles of members of the Second Estate included:
• Duke and Duchess: The highest-ranking members of the French nobility. Dukes were typically landowners who held important government positions. Duchesses were the wives of dukes.
• Count and Countess: Members of the French nobility below the rank of duke. Counts were typically landowners who held less important government positions than dukes. Countesses were the wives of counts.
• Baron and Baroness: Members of the French nobility below the rank of count. Barons were typically landowners who held no government positions. Baronesses were the wives of barons.
• Viscount and Viscountess: Members of the French nobility below the rank of baron. Viscounts were typically younger sons of counts or barons. Viscountesses were the wives of viscounts.
• Marquis and Marchioness: Members of the French nobility below the rank of viscount. Marquises were typically younger sons of dukes or counts. Marchionesses were the wives of marquises.
• Chevalier: A French knight. Chevaliers were typically members of the lower nobility who had distinguished themselves in battle.
• Dame: A French lady. Dames were typically members of the nobility or the wealthy bourgeoisie.
• Sieur: A French lord. Sieurs were typically landowners who held no government positions.
• Ecuyer: A French squire. Ecuyers were typically young men of noble birth who were training to become knights.
• Demoiselles: Unmarried French noblewomen.
• The French Revolution of 1789 abolished the Second Estate and its privileges.

RANKS AND PRIVILEGES

• Not all aristocratic titles were equal. Like the church, the nobility had its natural hierarchy. The most prominent position was usually held by court nobles (those closest to the monarch).
• The noblesse d’épée (‘sword nobles’) obtained their titles by military service and saw themselves as more important. Noble titles were granted to noblesse de robe (‘nobles of the robe’) for non-military services, such as those performed as financiers, administrators, magistrates, or court officials.
• Hundreds of persons also obtained titles venally, buying them from the monarch rather than having them conferred upon them for service. 
• Venality allowed wealthy Third Estate members to join the ranks of the Second Estate. 
• A noble title was more than just an honorific: it also conferred specific rights and benefits on its holder, notably exemption from personal taxes. 
• These exemptions were a significant cause of the French Revolution, as France’s Third Estate (commoners) realized they were shouldering the nation’s financial load.

PERCEPTIONS AND DEPICTIONS

• The nobility in pre-revolutionary France is sometimes portrayed as a lavishly wealthy but unproductive group, addicted to leisure and detached from the realities of French society.
• This stereotype can be found in Pierre de Laclos’ 1782 novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses (in English, Dangerous Liaisons). Dangerous Liaisons told through a series of letters between the central characters, presented an aristocratic elite obsessed with intrigues, manipulation, sexual conquest, and negotiation involving other aristocrats and commoners.
• Dangerous Liaisons contains several implicit and explicit criticisms of the Second Estate. Its wealthy protagonists, who had nothing else to do, indulged in extravagant and immoral behavior to pass the time. 
• The key players exploited religion cynically, especially the main character, de Valmont, who pretends to be devout while sexually pursuing his married victim. 
• Above all, in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, the nobles display contempt for the lower classes, servants, and bourgeoisie while contributing little or nothing to society.

INDUSTRIOUS NOBLES

• Some nobility fit the stereotypes in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, but not all. Like aristocrats elsewhere, many French nobles strived to amass wealth and enhance their authority and influence. 
• It was considered humiliating for noblemen to trade or business before the 1700s. Working may even result in losing one’s noble titles (dérogeance).
• However, at the time of the revolution, those attitudes had shifted. Many noblemen had become active businessmen, capitalists, and progressive thinkers. 
• They wanted to broaden and increase their economic interests by investing in trade, commerce, and new projects. In this regard, they were not dissimilar to bourgeoisie people in business.
• Land was the primary source of revenue for more conservative aristocrats. Wealthier nobility had enormous estates that they administered as enterprises. 
• Rents, feudal dues, and agricultural earnings were the principal sources of revenue for these landed nobility.

STRUGGLING NOBLES

• Members of the Second Estate were not all affluent, prosperous, or prestigious. Hobereaux (‘old birds’) were provincial nobility with lower titles and smaller land holdings. 
• Most hobereaux lived modestly on small estates in rural locations, similar to English country squires.
• Despite having modest land and wealth, most hobereaux preserved their political rights and immunity from personal taxation. 
• The hobereaux were, for the most part, a dissatisfied class: they had the attitude and snobbery that comes with status but not the wealth to live as they would have desired.
• Many in this group despised the emerging bourgeoisie, who had surpassed them regarding land, riches, and social standing. 
• Some blamed the monarchy for their condition, accusing it of neglecting to safeguard the nobles and their possessions. 
• Some Second Estate members were landless. They resided in cities or towns and were supported by investments, royal pensions, or other nobles’ sponsorship.

ENTERING THE SECOND ESTATE

• As previously stated, it was possible to purchase your way into the aristocracy through a technique known as venality. 
• French kings frequently sold venal posts to wealthy commoners to raise cash for the state. After a while, the holders of these venal offices were bestowed with a noble title.
• During the 1700s, the selling of venal offices expanded dramatically. These shady offices were not cheap. 
• A lesser office may cost as little as 20,000 livres, but larger offices with immediate noble status could cost as much as 50,000 livres. 
• A venal title, on the other hand, would protect you and your successors from any personal taxation, making it a wise investment for those who could afford it. 
• Historian Sylvia Neely said roughly 6,500 commoner families obtained noble titles throughout the 18th century. 
• The majority were merchants who benefited from France’s thriving imperial trade. Others became wealthy through colonial ventures, banking, finance, or tax farming.

ARISTOCRATIC LIBERALISM

• Ironically, some of the Second Estate’s more affluent members became famous proponents of liberal, and thus revolutionary, ideals.
• The rise of a vocal minority of liberal nobles was propelled by economic modernization, the integration of former bourgeoisie into the Second Estate, the flourishing Enlightenment, exposure to liberal political works by thinkers like Rousseau, and the dissemination of progressive ideas from Britain and America.
• Noblemen, such as the Marquis de Lafayette, the Duke of Noailles, and Honore Mirabeau, were educated liberally. They read the works of Enlightenment thinkers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Denis Diderot. 
• In the instance of Lafayette, he witnessed the American Revolution’s triumphs firsthand while serving as an adjutant to George Washington.
• Many of the cahiers de doléances (‘books of grievance’) prepared by the Second Estate and handed to the Estates-General in 1789 contained liberal ideals. 
• Many grievance ledgers advocated for a constitution; a few even petitioned to eliminate noble tax exemptions.
• Liberal nobles played essential roles in the French Revolution, notably in its early stages (1789-91). 
• As the revolution progressed, noble titles were eliminated, and affiliation with the nobility became a cause for suspicion and, eventually, murder.

THE THREE ESTATES

• The Catholic clergy comprised the First Estate, including priests, bishops, and other religious dignitaries. They were the most privileged estate, enjoying exemption from most taxes and owning a large portion of the land.
• First Estate: Clergy
  • Who am I? A member of the Catholic Church, including priests, bishops, and other religious figures.
  • What do I wear? Clerical robes, such as a cassock and surplice.
  • What do I want? To ensure the salvation of souls and to maintain the power and influence of the Catholic Church.
  • The Second Estate comprised the nobility, including dukes, counts, barons, and other royal family members. They also enjoyed privileges such as tax exemption and the right to hold certain government positions.

• Second Estate: Nobility
  • Who am I? A member of the aristocracy, including dukes, counts, barons, and other royal family members.
  • What do I wear? Elaborate clothing made of expensive fabrics, such as silk and velvet.
  • What do I want? To maintain my position of privilege and power in society.

• The Third Estate consisted of all other members of society, including peasants, artisans, merchants, and the bourgeoisie. They were the largest estate but had the fewest rights and privileges. They paid the most taxes and had little say in government.
• Third Estate: Commoners
  • Who am I? Everyone else, including peasants, artisans, merchants, and the bourgeoisie.
  • What do I wear? Simple, practical clothing made of inexpensive fabrics, such as wool and linen.
  • What do I want? Equality and opportunity for all.
• The French Revolution was sparked by the growing tensions between the three estates. The commoners were tired of being oppressed and exploited by the clergy and the nobility. They wanted to create a new society based on equality and liberty.

The Second Estate Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about The Second Estate across 31 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about The Second Estate. The Second Estate was a small collection of noble or aristocratic orders in 18th-century French society. Its male and female members held titles such as Duc (‘Duke’), Comte (‘Count’), Vicomte (‘Viscount’), Baron, or Chevalier. Members of the nobility, regardless of position, had high status and significant advantages.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. The Second Estate Facts
2. Nobility Composition
3. The Three Estates
4. Nobility Privileges
5. Now Watching…
6. Revolutionary Impact
7. Image Analysis
8. A Noble’s Biography
9. The Abolition Debate
10. Propaganda Poster
11. The 1789 Meeting

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Second Estate in pre-revolutionary France?

The Second Estate was one of the three traditional estates in France, comprising the nobility. It was a privileged class that enjoyed significant social and economic advantages.

How did individuals become part of the Second Estate?

Membership in the Second Estate was typically hereditary. Nobility was passed down through family lines, and individuals were born into this social class. However, it was also possible to acquire nobility through royal recognition or military service.

What privileges did the Second Estate enjoy?

Members of the Second Estate enjoyed numerous privileges, including exemption from many taxes, access to high-ranking positions in the military and government, and the right to collect feudal dues from peasants who lived on their land.

What role did the Second Estate play in the French Revolution?

The Second Estate played a significant role in the French Revolution. Many nobles resisted the social and political changes proposed by the Third Estate (common people). The refusal of the nobility to share the tax burden and the demand for equal representation eventually led to tensions that contributed to the outbreak of the revolution.

How did the French Revolution affect the Second Estate?

The French Revolution had a profound impact on the Second Estate. The revolutionary events, especially the storming of the Bastille in 1789, marked the beginning of the end for the privileges of the nobility. The National Assembly abolished feudal privileges, and many nobles faced persecution, loss of property, and even execution during the Reign of Terror. The revolution fundamentally transformed the social and political landscape of France.

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