the level of generated monsters by 100% (was by 150%)
The deputies were seated in rows around the edge. The king officiated from his position at the end of the hall beneath a majestic baldachin, with the queen and the princes of the blood around him. However, contrary to the depiction in the famous engraving, the hall was very small. A temporary hall with columns had been built behind the Menus-Plaisirs building on Avenue de Paris.
The convocation had been sent out on 5 July the previous year, assembling the Estates General for the first time since 1614.
The solemn opening ceremony began on 5 May. For the first time in history a bishop was applauded in a church. The procession started at Notre-Dame, crossed the Place d’Armes, and finished at the church of Saint-Louis, where Monseigneur de La Fare, bishop of Nancy, stood at the pulpit and gave his famous speech in which he severely rebuked the luxury of the Court. The queen was wearing a gold and silver dress. On his hat he wore the Regent Diamond, which was the largest diamond in the kingdom. The king himself was wearing an overcoat of golden fabric and was surrounded by the most important Officers to the Crown. They were all holding a candle in their hand, except for those carrying the banners and the King’s Falconers. The deputies of the Third Estate (the Commoners) were the greatest in number, dressed in black with a gold and black overcoat. From all over France, 1,200 deputies had arrived for the event. On the last grand ceremony of the Ancien Régime was held in Versailles: the procession of the Estates General.