Ancien r�gime

history of France, the phrase ancien régime (French for old régime or old order) commonly refers to the social and political system established in France under the old absolute monarchy, subsequently swept away by the French Revolution of 1789 with the fall of Louis XVI.

The phrase generally applies to France, for no other country, with perhaps the exception of Japan, has had in modern times so clearly marked a division between "the old order" and the new.

Also see: Old Europe

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.