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Toulouse at the Onset of the French Revolution: The Convocation of the Estates General and The Challenge to the Municipal Government

  • Korean Review of French History
  • Abbr : KRFH
  • 2004, (11), pp.61~110
  • Publisher : KOREAN SOCIETY FOR FRENCH HISTORY
  • Research Area : Humanities > History

양희영 1

1

Candidate

ABSTRACT

During the period of 1788-1789, the Revolution in Toulouse began with the struggle against the Estates Provincial of Languedoc. The struggle evolved into the challenge to the capitouls who had dominated the city in the Old Regime. Merchants and artisans, dissatisfied with the exclusive takeover of Capitoulat by the bourgeoisie de robe, led the struggle. They convened at their own discretion the general assemblies of the Third Estate in the city and established the Intermediary Commission of the Third Estate of Toulouse, the city’s veritable representative body, when the capitouls refused to convene “the Reinforced General Council.” However, the Third Estate of Toulouse did not strike a decisive blow to the capitouls in spite of its revolutionary appearance. The Third Estate in the city was still under the control of the capitouls in drawing up cahier de doléances and designating its deputies. Moreover, it caused the hostile reaction of other towns and cities in the sénéchaussée by requesting the right of sending their special delegates to the Estates General, apart from those of the sénéchaussée, and the continuation of the Parlement of Toulouse. The hostility, in turn, reinforced the Toulousains’ preoccupation with their local interests and weakened the challenge to the capitouls. Therefore, in the course of convening the Estates General, it is worth to pay attention to not only the revolutionary dynamism but also the cautious attitude that moderated the revolutionary intensity. Let alone their active demonstration of the cumulative discontent and the resistance to the municipal authorities, the Toulousains also showed their respect for the city authorities and the union of citizens especially in coping with the intimidated interests of the city.

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