Estates of Béarn

The Estates of Béarn are the former Provincial Estates of Béarn. It was formed following the death of Gaston III/X of Foix-Béarn, alias Gaston Phoebus, on 1 August 1391, as a sort of Extraordinary Assembly, regrouping the representatives of the various courts of Béarn, most notably those of the "Cour des Communautés" and of the "" that had been disbanded by Gaston Phoebus.

It assembled for the first time on 8 August 1391 and held its last meeting from 12–23 October 1789. When the National Assembly abolished all privileges on 4 August 1789, an exception was made allowing the Estates of Béarn to express their consent. Deliberations took place in a charged atmosphere, and in the end the decree of 4 August 1789 was approved on 28 October 1789.

The Estates of Béarn were composed of two orders: the "First Order" and the "Second Order".

The First Order was the chamber of the clergy and of the nobility. Its members were:

The Second Order was the chamber of the Estates of the Realm. It was composed of the representatives of the province's 480 communes, represented by forty-two mayors and jurats of the main communes of Béarn, who were appointed, not elected, and generally owners of noble offices or commissions granted by the King, most notably:

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