What feudal rights did the National Constituent Assembly abolish on August 4, 1789?
On the night of August 4, 1789, the National Constituent Assembly decreed the abolition of the feudal regime in response to widespread peasant uprisings known as the Great Fear.12
During this session, the Assembly abolished several key components of the ancien régime:
- Feudalism: Personal feudal servitudes, including hunting rights, seigneurial justice, and labor services, were suppressed outright.1
- Ecclesiastical and Fiscal Privileges: The church tithe, venality of office, and various regional and fiscal privileges were eliminated.12
It is important to note that the Assembly later clarified these decrees to distinguish between personal servitudes and "legitimate" seigneurial property rights. While personal obligations were abolished, most seigneurial dues remained in effect and were only to be suppressed if peasants paid financial compensation to their lords. This requirement was widely rejected by the peasantry, leading to continued pressure that eventually resulted in the complete abolition of all seigneurial dues without compensation by 1792–93.1