How did Montesquieu’s description of the English constitution influence French political thought?

Montesquieu’s description of the English constitution, particularly his theory of the separation of powers, profoundly influenced French political thought during the Enlightenment.1

In his masterwork, The Spirit of Laws (1748), Montesquieu analyzed the English system as a model where the king shared power with Parliament, arguing that such a structure effectively protected individual liberties. By asserting that legislative, executive, and judicial powers should be confided to independent bodies, he provided a framework that challenged the absolute authority of the French monarchy.12

His ideas resonated deeply with French intellectuals and reformers who sought to move away from traditional, arbitrary governance. Although Montesquieu was not a revolutionary himself, his advocacy for "intermediary bodies"—such as aristocratic courts—to resist royal abuses became a cornerstone of political discourse. Consequently, his work was cited more frequently than any other authority during the early phase of the French Revolution, significantly shaping the ideological foundations of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in 1789.134