Aix-en-Provence en 1789 : le mouvement et la résistance

As a result of the dispute over the Provence Estates, the debate concerning the elections for the Estates General, the popular agitation and the events in Paris on 14th July, the oligarchical Aix town council was forced to hold enlarged meetings — even general assemblies of the citizens — , to set up the future national guard and reform slightly its ancient charter. But in spite of these apparent changes, the town council managed to remain unchanged until the February 1790 elections which produced a new council. The influence of the nobles all but vanished and the artisans and rich farmers were no longer totally excluded from the council ; nevertheless the traditional Aix middle classes, composed of lawyers, still predominated and were even represented by the same men.Cubells Monique. Aix-en-Provence en 1789 : le mouvement et la résistance. In: Dix-huitième Siècle, n°20, 1988. L'année 1789. pp. 161-178