Tennis Court Oath
- When
- 1789
- Where
- Estates-General convening; Third Estate deliberations; Indoor tennis court (Salle du Jeu de Paume) near the Palace of Versailles; Royal concession on voting procedure
- Episodes
- 4
On 20 June 1789, deputies of the French Third Estate, locked out and fearing royal action, gathered in an indoor tennis court near the Palace of Versailles and swore not to separate until a constitution was established. The oath reinforced the National Assembly's position, and Louis XVI ultimately conceded to voting by head.
Episodes
- Estates-General deadlocks over voting procedure
Convened in May 1789 to address fiscal crisis, the Estates-General stalled over whether to vote by order or by head.
- Third Estate declares itself the National Assembly
On 17 June 1789 the Third Estate began calling itself the National Assembly and invited the other estates to join against the king's wishes.
- Deputies swear the Tennis Court Oath
Fearing an imminent royal attack, deputies met on Guillotin's suggestion in an indoor tennis court near Versailles and swore not to separate until a constitution was established.
- Louis XVI concedes voting by head
After the oath reinforced the Assembly despite royal attempts to thwart it, Louis XVI formally requested voting by head counts on 27 June 1789.
Background and detail
Background. Summoned by King Louis XVI, the Estates-General of 1789 was called to address France's fiscal and agricultural crisis, rooted in debt from the Seven Years' War, the American Revolution, and an inefficient taxation system. After convening in May 1789, it stalled over representation, especially whether votes would be counted by order or by head.
The Oath. On 17 June the Third Estate, led by figures including Jean Sylvain Bailly and Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, Comte de Mirabeau, began calling itself the National Assembly and invited the other estates to join, against the king's wishes. Fearing an imminent attack by Louis XVI, and on Joseph-Ignace Guillotin's suggestion, the deputies met in a nearby indoor tennis court and took the oath on 20 June 1789.
Aftermath. The vow not to separate until the constitution of the kingdom was established became a pivotal event of the French Revolution. It strengthened the Assembly, and although Louis XVI tried to thwart its effect, he was forced to relent: on 27 June 1789 he formally requested that voting proceed by head counts rather than by each estate's power.
People involved
- Members of the French Third Estate · Deputies who took the Tennis Court Oath
- King Louis XVI · King of France whose perceived threat prompted the gathering and who later conceded voting by head
- Joseph-Ignace Guillotin · Deputy who suggested congregating in the indoor tennis court
- Jean Sylvain Bailly · Leader of the Third Estate's National Assembly
- Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, Comte de Mirabeau · Leader of the Third Estate's National Assembly
Sources
- Tennis Court Oath Wikipedia
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