Everything about Ancien Regime totally explained
Ancien Régime (: /ɑ̃sjɛ̃ ʁeʒim/) refers primarily to the
aristocratic social and
political system established in
France under the
Valois and
Bourbon dynasties (14th century to 18th century). The term is
French for "Former Regime," but rendered in
English as "Old Rule," "Old Order," or simply "Old (or Ancient) Regime".
As defined by the creators of the term, the Ancien Régime developed out of the French monarchy of the
Middle Ages, and was swept away centuries later by the
French Revolution of
1789.
Europe's other
anciens régimes had similar origins, but diverse ends: some eventually became
constitutional monarchies, whereas others were torn down by wars and revolutions.
Power in the Ancien Régime relied on three pillars: the
monarchy, the
clergy, and the
aristocracy. Society was divided into three
Estates of the realm: the
First Estate, the
Roman Catholic clergy; the
Second Estate, the nobility; and the
Third Estate, the rest of the population.
More generally,
Ancien Régime means any regime which shares the former's defining features. The
Ancien Régime retained many aspects of a
feudal system that had existed since at least the 8th century, in particular
noble and
aristocratic privilege, and supported by the doctrine of the
Divine Right of Kings. It differed from that earlier feudal order in that political power had increasingly become concentrated in an
absolute monarch.
The term dates from the
Age of Enlightenment (first appearing in print in English in 1794) and was originally
pejorative in nature. Similar to other sweeping criticisms of the past, such as the consciously disparaging term
Dark Ages for what is more commonly known as the
Middle Ages, the concept of
Ancien Régime is layered onto the past as an expression of disapproval for the way things were done, and carries an implied approval of a "New Order". The term was created by the French Revolutionaries to promote a new cause and discredit the existing order, and wasn't a neutral historical descriptor of the past.
For some authors, though, the term came to denote a certain nostalgia.
Talleyrand famously quipped that "those who have not known the Ancien régime will never know how sweet life can be" (
"ceux qui n'ont pas connu l'Ancien Régime ne pourront jamais savoir ce qu'était la douceur de vivre.").
The analogous term
"Antiguo Régimen" is often used in
Spanish. However, although
Spain was strongly affected by the French Revolution and its aftermath, the break wasn't as sharp as in France.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Ancien Regime'.
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