TIERCE

In Heraldry, a term used for the field when divided into three parts. TIERS ETA T. The third branch, or commonalty, in the French estates. The origin and meaning of the word are illustrated by M. Gautier. (Mint, de VAcad. des Inscr. vol. xxxvii.) The important part which the representation of the tiers etat played at the commencement of the French revolution is known to all. Previously to the great French revolution, the French were divided into three distinct cla es, the nobles, the clergy, and the commonalty, forming in their united capacity the states general of the kingdom; and their deliberations were separately conducted by individual vote in different chambers, in which the three cla es above mentioned respectively a embled. They then met in common to deliberate together, and vote collectively. Now, as the number of the deputies was nearly equal in each order, the result of the votes taken collectively was always nece arily favourable to the jjrivileged orders. Hence it was loudly demanded that the number of the third or tiers estate should be doubled, and the definitive resolutions decided by individual instead of collective votes. Every one knows that it was owing to the refusal of the nobles and the clergy to comply with this demand, that the crisis of the French revolution was accelerated; and to the consummation of this event a celebrated pamphlet of Sieyes, entitled Qu'est ce que le Tiers Etat, in a great degree contributed. See A embly. [s. 1252]