The Abolition of Feudalism: Peasants, Lords and Legislators in the French Revolution

1416 Pages·1996·9.53 MB·English

by  John Markoff

JOHN MARKOFF
THE ABOLITION OF FEUDALISM
PEASANTS, LORDS, AND LEGISLATORS IN THE
FRENCH REVOLUTION
THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY PRESS
UNIVERSITY PARK, PENNSYLVANIA
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This publication has been supported by the National Endowment for the
Humanities, a federal agency which supports the study of such fields as history,
philosophy, literature, and languages.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Markoff, John, 1942—
The abolition of feudalism: peasants, lords, and legislators in the French
Revolution / John Markoff.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-271-01538-1 (cloth: alk. paper) ISBN 0-271-01539-X (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Land tenure-- France--History. 2. Peasantry--France--History. 3. Feudalism--
France. 4. France--History--Revolution, 1789-1799-Causes. I. Title.
HD644. M37 1996 333.3'22'0994--dc20
95-50657 CIP
Copyright © 1996 The Pennsylvania State University All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America Published by The Pennsylvania State
University Press, University Park, PA 16802-1003
It is the policy of The Pennsylvania State University Press to use acid-free paper
for the first printing of all clothbound books. Publications on uncoated stock
satisfy the minimum requirements of American National Standard for
Information Sciences--Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI
Z39.48-1992.
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For my parents, Maxine and Sol Markoff
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CONTENTS
List of Figures and Maps ix
List of Tables xi
Acknowledgments xvii
1. Introduction: Grievances, Insurrections,
1
Legislation
2. Seigneurial Rights on the Revolutionary Agenda 16
3. Three Revolutionary Programs 65
4. On the Ideological Construction of the Seigneurial
Regime by
the Third Estate (and of Two Seigneurial Regimes 145
by the
Nobility)
5. Forms of Revolt: The French Countryside, 1788-
203
1793
6. Rhythms of Contention 271
7. Tracking Insurrection through Time and Space 337
8. Revolutionary Peasants and Revolutionary
428
Legislators
9. Words and Things: The French Revolutionary
Bourgeoisie 516
Defines the Feudal Regime
10. Conclusion: From Grievances to Revolution 561
Appendix: Sources for Peasant Insurrection Data 613
References 621
Index 655
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LIST OF FIGURES AND MAPS
Fig. 6.1 Insurrectionary Events by Month 271
Incidence of Rural Insurrection by
6.2 (a) 276
Date
Incidence of Rural Insurrection by
6.2 (b) 277
Date
Incidence of Rural Insurrection by
6.2 (c) 278
Date
Incidence of Rural Insurrection by
6.2 (d) 279
Date
Proportions of Rural Insurrection by
6.3 (a) 283
Date
Proportions of Rural Insurrection by
6.3 (b) 284
Date
Proportions of Rural Insurrection by
6.3 (c) 285
Date
Proportions of Rural Insurrection by
6.3 (d) 286
Date
Components
Insurrectionary Events (by month)
6.4 of Peaks 300
with Major
Indicated
Daily Incidence of Insurrection:
6.5 301
July-August 1789
6.6 (a) Peak Periods of Insurrection 302
6.6 (b) Peak Periods of Insurrection 303
6.6 (c) Peak Periods of Insurrection 304
6.6 (d) Peak Periods of Insurrection 305
Insurrectionary Events ( 1661-1789)
6.7 307
by Day of Week
Insurrectionary Events ( 1788-1793)
6.8 312
by Day of Week
Types of Insurrectionary Events by
6.9 (a) Day of Week 315
Types of Insurrectionary Events by
6.9 (b) 316
Day of Week
Types of Insurrectionary Events by
6.9 (c) 317
Day of Week
Types of Insurrectionary Events by
6.9 (d) 318
Day of Week
Mean Actions per Event, June 1788-
6.10 323
June 1793
6.11 Insurrectionary Events by Month 325
Monthly Proportions of
6.12 (a) 328
Insurrections, 1789-1792
Monthly Proportions of
6.12 (b) 329
Insurrections, 1789-1792
Monthly Proportions of
6.13 330
Insurrections, 1788 and 1793
Bailliages with Insurrections, July-
8.1 437
August 1789
8.2 Land Conflict with Feudal Aspect 483
8.3 Intracommunal Land Conflict 484
Timing of Major Legislative
8.4
Initiatives on Seigneurial
Regime, Tithe and Access to Land,
and of Insurrections
over Those Issues 488
Religious Events: Violence Against
8.5 507
Persons
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