The States or the Estates (French: États, German: Landstände, Dutch: Staten) signifies the assembly of the (feudalistic) representatives of the estates of the realm, called together for purposes of legislation or deliberation. In German speaking countries they were also known by the name Landtag (see also Diet).
In some states, the first estate were the Roman Catholic clergymen, the second estate was composed of the nobility, and the third estate was composed of the bourgeoisie and the peasants. Bourgeoisie, peasants and people with no estate from birth were separated in Sweden and Finland, as late as 1905.
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Famous quotes containing the word estates:
“No man, however benevolent, liberal, and wise, can use a large fortune so that it will do half as much good in the world as it would if it were divided into moderate sums and in the hands of workmen who had earned it by industry and frugality. The piling up of estates often does great and conspicuous good.... But no man does with accumulated wealth so much good as the same amount would do in many hands.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)