Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes

Definition

A French Roman Catholic abbé, clergyman and political writer who was one of the chief political theorists of the French Revolution; he also held offices in the French Consulate and First French Empire.

Analogy

Think of Sieyes as a screenwriter (political theorist) who not only writes an award-winning script (theories for the Revolution), but also gets to direct (hold office) his own blockbuster movie (French Consulate).

Related terms

"What is the Third Estate?": A political pamphlet written by Sieyes in 1789 that advocated for greater representation for common people in France.

Estates-General: The legislative body in France until 1789, representing three estates - Clergy, Nobility and Commoners. Sieyes played a key role advocating for equal representation here.

Consulate: The government formed after Napoleon's coup d'etat which ended French revolution; Sieyes was one of its initial leaders.