France had a Sociological society divided into three groups Clergy, Nobility, Third Estate. The clergy(first estate) was 0.5% of the population, there was the rich Clergy who were the people in governmental positions - They basically controlled the Moral culture of society. Many of the poor clergy were as poor as the people they served. The Nobility (Second estate) There were 120,000 and although they made up 1% of the population they owned between 1/4 and 1/3 of all the land. The nobility divide into three The Nobles de court these are the small group of independent, very wealthy nobles who serve the monarch as advisors, supporters, ambassadors etc. Nobles de robes These were Bourgeoise who bought there way into nobility and didn't have a hereditary title. Poorer Nobles Stayed in there homes and were jealous of court and were power hungry and took it out on there people