Social Mobility in the Ancien Régime Society

Abstract

Although one cannot find, in Modern Age, reference to "social mobility", this was a possibility and had origins in extraordinary powers, such as those exercised by the king, which enabled him to emancipate, to legitimize, to turn into noble. Which wass the possible and lawful mobility? Which were the change mechanisms? Which were the risks? Which were the proof titles? The answers to these questions, upon which one build up his/her life strategies, come from a representation universe that this article proposes to describe in general terms.

Ancien Régime; Social mobility; Law