Legal Definitions - the three estates

The three estates refer to the different groups of people who held power and influence in medieval Europe and Great Britain. These groups were:

• The clergy (religious leaders)
• The nobles (wealthy landowners)
• The commons (everyone else)

In Great Britain, the three estates were the lords spiritual (bishops and other religious leaders), the lords temporal (nobles and other landowners), and the commons (everyone else). In England before the 14th century, the three estates were the clergy, barons, and knights.

The concept of the three estates was important in medieval Europe because it helped to define who had power and influence in society. The clergy had spiritual authority, the nobles had political and military power, and the commons had economic power. By understanding the roles of each estate, people could better understand their place in society and how to navigate the complex social and political landscape of the time.