Ancien Regimes

The period of time spanning from the 15th century to 1792 in France, and the period of time from 1660 to 1832 in Britain are referred to as Ancien Regimes in each respective country. These periods of time in each country are referred to as Ancien Regimes or “old regimes” for the fact that they are no longer the social and political structures that are still in place in both France and Britain any longer. Because they are old regimes, that must mean that they came to an end, and indeed they both did, one in 1792 and the other in 1832. There is no argument that both of these regimes came to an end. However, the ways in which these regimes were ended were quite different in each country, as will be examined in the later stages of this paper.

This term was first used to describe the hereditary monarchy and feudal system of French nobility that lasted until 1792, before it was ended by the French Revolution. Despite the French origins of this term, it is also applicable to other countries such as Britain and the hereditary monarchy that took place there, and lasted until the Reform Act of 1832. In both countries the ancien regimes consisted of the social and political structure when divine right monarchy was still in place. In first discussing divine right monarchy, what it is and what it was in both countries, one can compare and contrast the French Ancien Regime from the British ancien regime, and understand what happened to divine right monarchy and the reasons for it’s downfall in both

The success of absolutism was much lower in Britain than it was in France. It worked so well in France because the country as a whole was in a state of political turmoil and the introduction of a monarch and someone who could lead them out of these hard times was a welcome change for many. However, in England although they did have a monarch, the country was under joint control from both the king and Parliament. It wasn’t until James IV of Scotland ascended the throne of England, uniting the two countries under one monarch that England was introduced to an absolute monarch and divine right king. However, unlike the Bourbons of France the Stuarts remained closely united to Protestantism. Despite the difference in religion, the Stuarts of England also believed in the divine right of kings in that they answered only to God. This idea of divine right and absolute power in Britain is what eventually sparked the Glorious Revolution in England as served as a starting point for their ancient regime, a time where monarch and Parliament worked together. Unlike France, England’s ancien regime was not a time absolute monarchy. In fact the time in Britain that constituted the ancient regime was after absolute monarchy was ridded from the