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Sieyès, Emmanuel Joseph

Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès (1748–1836) was a French clergyman, political theorist, and statesman who played a significant role in the intellectual and political developments of the French Revolution. He is best known for his influential pamphlet "What is the Third Estate?" (1789), which articulated the grievances of the Third Estate (commoners) and advocated for their political empowerment.

Key aspects of Sieyès' life and contributions include:

  1. Early Life and Education: Sieyès was born in the south of France and studied theology and philosophy at the Sorbonne in Paris. He was ordained as a priest in 1772 but soon became involved in intellectual and political circles in Paris.

  2. "What is the Third Estate?": In 1789, Sieyès published his most famous work, "Qu'est-ce que le tiers état?" ("What is the Third Estate?"). In this pamphlet, he argued that the Third Estate, which comprised the vast majority of the French population but had been excluded from political power, was the true driving force of the nation. He famously declared, "What is the Third Estate? Everything. What has it been until now in the political order? Nothing. What does it demand? To become something." Sieyès called for the abolition of the feudal privileges of the nobility and clergy and advocated for the establishment of a representative government based on the principle of popular sovereignty.

  3. Contribution to the Revolution: Sieyès was an active participant in the early stages of the French Revolution. He was elected as a deputy to the Estates-General in 1789 and played a key role in the drafting of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. He was also involved in the development of the National Assembly and the establishment of the constitutional monarchy.

  4. Political Career: Sieyès served in various governmental roles during the Revolution, including as a member of the Committee of Public Safety and the Committee of General Security. He was also a member of the Directory, the executive branch of the French government established after the fall of Robespierre. However, he became disillusioned with the excesses of the Revolution and supported Napoleon Bonaparte's rise to power.

  5. Later Years: After Napoleon's coup d'état in 1799, Sieyès retired from political life and devoted himself to writing and scholarship. He continued to be involved in intellectual and academic circles and published several works on political theory and constitutional law.

Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès' ideas on popular sovereignty, representative government, and the rights of the Third Estate had a profound impact on the course of the French Revolution and the development of modern democratic theory. His advocacy for political empowerment and equality laid the groundwork for the principles of democracy and citizenship that continue to shape political systems around the world today.


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