Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès

Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès, commonly known as Abbé Sieyès, was a French clergyman and political theorist during the late 18th century. He is best known for his influential pamphlet "What Is the Third Estate?" published in 1789, which argued that the common people, or the Third Estate, were the true strength of the nation and deserved more power and representation. His ideas contributed to the French Revolution by challenging the existing social hierarchy dominated by the aristocracy and clergy. Sieyès later played a significant role in the political landscape of revolutionary France, notably as a key figure in the establishment of the Consulate.