The Church, The French Revolution and The Napoleonic Era, 1789–1815

Note: At the French Revolution Catholicism was the official religion of France. The clergy numbered 130,000, of whom 70,000 were regulars and 60,000 seculars. The Church was the biggest landowner. It received tithes, paid no direct tax, but voted a fiscal contribution every five years (the don gratuit). The Church supported nearly 2,200 hospitals, 600 colleges and 25,000 primary schools. Bishops of the 135 dioceses were recruited from the older aristocracy. The Church constituted one of the three ‘Estates’ of ancien régime France.