Prior to the French Revolution, the monarchy in France was an absolute institution, where the king exercised considerable power over the state. The monarchy centralized authority, with the king seen as divinely appointed, ruling by divine right. The social structure was hierarchical, comprised of three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and commoners. While the monarchy maintained law and order, it faced criticism due to extravagant spending and the disconnect between the monarchy and the suffering populace. The inability of the monarchy to effectively address financial crises contributed to growing discontent leading up to the Revolution and the eventual establishment of a republic.