Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès
Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès, also known as the Abbé Sieyès, was a pivotal figure during the French Revolution. Born on May 3, 1748, in Fréjus, France, Sieyès was a clergyman, political writer, and theorist whose ideas significantly influenced the revolutionary events.
Early Life and Education
Sieyès was born into a family of modest means, and his early education was in the local seminary. He later entered the Oratory of Jesus, a congregation that provided him with advanced education in theology, philosophy, and mathematics. His intellectual prowess was recognized early, and he was sent to study at the University of Paris.
Political Writings and Ideas
Sieyès is most renowned for his pamphlet "What is the Third Estate?" published in January 1789, just before the Estates-General convened. In this work, he argued that the Third Estate, which comprised the commoners, was the true representative of the nation:
- He famously posed three questions: "What is the Third Estate? Everything. What has it been hitherto in the political order? Nothing. What does it demand? To become something."
- Sieyès advocated for the abolition of the feudal privileges of the nobility and the clergy, arguing that all power should reside with the nation, not with the estates.
Role in the French Revolution
During the revolution:
Later Years and Legacy
After the revolution:
- Sieyès was involved in the Coup of 18 Brumaire in 1799, which brought Napoleon Bonaparte to power. He served briefly under Napoleon's Consulate but was eventually sidelined due to his political differences.
- His later political career was marked by his attempts to reform the French constitution, although these efforts were largely unsuccessful.
- Sieyès lived through the Napoleonic Era and the subsequent Bourbon Restoration, witnessing the transformation of France from a monarchy to an empire and back to a monarchy.
- He died on June 20, 1836, in Paris, having seen the political landscape of France change dramatically over his lifetime.
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