Ancien Regime Apr 2026

Massive debt from wars (including support for the American Revolution) and a series of poor harvests led to widespread famine and skyrocketing bread prices.

Society was strictly divided into three "estates," a system that determined an individual's rights, taxes, and legal status: ancien regime

The Ancien Régime (Old Regime) refers to the social and political system of the Kingdom of France from the Late Middle Ages until the French Revolution of 1789. It was characterized by a rigid hierarchical structure, an absolute monarchy, and a complex web of feudal privileges that ultimately became unsustainable under the weight of economic crisis and Enlightenment ideals. The Social Hierarchy: The Three Estates Massive debt from wars (including support for the