here in sweden at least we specifically had 4 classes around that time: Nobility, priests, bourgeoise/merchants, and farmers. Bougies were defined by being allowed to run businesses in cities, as farmers in sweden largely kept to themselves outside of cities and basically only interacted with the other classes during specific occasions like selling/buying things in the city or doing legal stuff or more significant religious things.
The merchant class was certainly a thing after the black plague.
They had enough wealth that they had political influence.
here in sweden at least we specifically had 4 classes around that time: Nobility, priests, bourgeoise/merchants, and farmers. Bougies were defined by being allowed to run businesses in cities, as farmers in sweden largely kept to themselves outside of cities and basically only interacted with the other classes during specific occasions like selling/buying things in the city or doing legal stuff or more significant religious things.