Estates General Opening Ceremony at Versailles

On 5 May 1789, the Estates General convened at Versailles, gathering some 300 deputies serving the Clergy, another 300 representing the Aristocrats and twice as many for the commoners, inclusive of middle class and peasants.

That assembly which had not come together since 1614 had been summoned by Louis XVI for several reasons: near bankruptcy of the state, wide spread famine and hundred of riots all over the provinces.

Interestingly, the uprisings in the different regions of France were taking place spontaneously without any coordination nor synchronicity... By bringing 600 deputies representing the commoners together in one place, the King gave them unity! Oops!