On what date did the National Constituent Assembly abolish feudal privileges?

The National Constituent Assembly abolished feudal privileges on 4 August 1789. That night, in a dramatic session, deputies renounced many hereditary privileges and dismantled key institutions of the ancien régime.

The decision followed the Great Fear, a wave of rural panic and revolt that spread across France during the summer of 1789. Peasants attacked manor houses, destroyed records of dues, and resisted obligations owed to feudal lords. Deputies hoped that abolishing privileges would calm the countryside and restore order.

The August Decrees ended noble tax privileges, manorial courts, hunting rights, and many feudal dues. Some land-related dues were initially made redeemable rather than immediately cancelled, so the practical abolition of feudalism continued through later legislation. This is why 4 August is the standard date for the event, even though the decrees were formally developed and issued across several days, from 4 to 11 August.