There were three "estates" of the Estates General, France's parliament, and each represented a different class. The First Estate was the clergy, and the Second Estate was the nobility. The nobles of the sword traditionally had more power than the nobles of the robe. Their inherent position was derived from the military service they owed to the king in return for possession of their land-holdings, which were passed from father to son; but they also held official positions in provincial and national government, and at court. The Third Estate was the commoners, with representatives sent from the "bonnes villes" ("good towns") around the country, generally market towns, and while the electorate was limited, it included some men sent from surrounding villages. While the most numerous class in France was the peasantry, it was hardly represented in the Estates General, if at all.