# Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790)

URL: https://history-france.com/timeline/1790-civil-constitution-of-the-clergy
Location: France

The state reorganized the Catholic Church, dividing clergy and citizens over an oath of loyalty. Within the broader French Revolution period, The Revolution dismantled legal privilege and absolute monarchy, declared new rights and created a republic. War, popular mobilization, civil conflict and political terror repeatedly transformed the revolutionary state. At this point in the timeline, the relevant governing authority is Louis XVI (King of France). Civil Constitution of the Clergy mattered because religion was closely tied to political legitimacy, community identity and public institutions. The event is positioned here so visitors can read it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion, culture and France’s wider international setting.

## Why it matters
Civil Constitution of the Clergy mattered because religion was closely tied to political legitimacy, community identity and public institutions.

Ruler at the time: [Louis XVI](https://history-france.com/rulers/louis-xvi)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Civil Constitution of the Clergy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Civil+Constitution+of+the+Clergy&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Civil Constitution of the Clergy](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Civil+Constitution+of+the+Clergy)
- [Vie-publique — French institutions and history](https://www.vie-publique.fr/)