Pays d'états

In red, the pays d'états in 1789

Under the Ancien Régime, a pays d'états (French pronunciation: [pei deta]) was a type of généralité, or fiscal and financial region where, in contrast to the pays d'election, an estates provincial or representative assembly of the three orders had retained its traditional role of negotiating the raising of taxes with the royal commissaires or intendants, dividing the tax burden bydiocese and parish, and controlling tax collection. The estates also held onto part of the funds thus raised to repair and develop the roads in its province.

According to Roland Mousnier[1] and Bernard Barbiche[2] the pays d'états were:


Notes and references

  1. Les institutions de la France sous la monarchie absolue, 1598-1789, PUF, Paris, 2005
  2. Les institutions de la Monarchie française à l’époque moderne, XVIe-XVIIIe siècle, PUF, Paris, 1999)

See also