The marmousets (referred to as les petites gens) is a nickname, first recorded in the chronicles of Jean Froissart, for a group of counselors to Charles VI of France. Although they were neither princes nor civil servants, they were very close to the king. Thanks to this position, they were able to access the highest functions of the state. These men were endowed with another quality, the solidarity between them. Chosen by Charles VI in 1388, they vowed to remain united and friends.
Charles VI was crowned in 1380, at the age of 11. His four uncles –the dukes of Burgundy, Berry, Anjou and Bourbon –served as his regents, entrusted with governing France. In November 1388, Pierre Aycelin de Montaigut, Cardinal of Laon, proposed in court that Charles VI relieve the dukes of their duties and assume control of the government. [1]
The marmousets—Pierre Aycelin de Montaigut, Bureau de La Rivière, Jean Le Mercier, Jean de Montaigu, Nicolas du Bosc, Olivier V de Clisson, Pierre le Bègue de Villaines and Guillaume IV de Melun—soon became Charles' privy council. The eight clerics and lords swore to stay united as friends, interdependent towards one another.
The marmousets' position as privy council ended on 5 August 1392, due to Charles VI's decline into insanity. [2] Le Mercier, de la Rivière and de Villaines were imprisoned, [3] de Montaigu escaped to Avignon, and de Clisson was fined 100,000 francs, dismissed of his title and banished from France. [3] Some of the marmousets eventually returned to their duties in minor posts, and while they were no longer a faction, many of their ideas were later put into practice by Charles VII, who became the natural heir of their policies. [2]
Philip II the Bold was Duke of Burgundy and jure uxoris Count of Flanders, Artois and Burgundy. He was the fourth and youngest son of King John II of France and Bonne of Luxembourg.
Charles VI, nicknamed the Beloved and in the 19th century, the Mad, was King of France from 1380 until his death in 1422. He is known for his mental illness and psychotic episodes that plagued him throughout his life.
Olivier V de Clisson, nicknamed "The Butcher", was a Breton soldier, the son of Olivier IV de Clisson. His father had been put to death by the French in 1343 on the suspicion of having willingly given up the city of Vannes to the English.
The Collège de Montaigu was one of the constituent colleges of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Paris.
Gilles II Aycelin de Montaigu or Montaigut, Montagu, was a French religious and diplomat who became Lord Chancellor of France, Cardinal from 1361 and bishop of Frascati from 1368. He was the chief negotiator for Jean II of France with the English, in the aftermath of the battle of Poitiers. Towards the end of his life he lived in Avignon on a livery from Cambrai. He died in there on 5 December 1378.
The diocese of Laon in the present-day département of Aisne, was a Catholic diocese for around 1300 years, up to the French Revolution. Its seat was in Laon, France, with Laon Cathedral. From early in the 13th century, the bishop of Laon was a Pair de France, among the elite.
Pierre de Craon, known as "le Grand", was a medieval French aristocrat notorious for his riotous temperament, culminating in his attempted murder of Olivier V de Clisson, Constable of France. Events following the assault led to the mental breakdown of King Charles VI of France and ushered in a long period of political instability in France.
Étienne de La Grange was a French politician of the group of counselors of kings Charles V and Charles VI designated as the Marmousets by their detractors. He was the brother of Cardinal Jean de La Grange. Knighted in 1371, he was elected president of the parliament in 1373, where he was a consultant from 1369.
Jean Le Mercier, who died 3 July 1397, Lord of Nouvion, was a French politician, advisor to kings Charles V and Charles VI. He was appointed by his detractors as being one the Marmousets. He was also Grand Master of France.
Bureau de La Rivière was a French politician, knight and royal adviser. He was the chamberlain of Charles V the Wise and an advisor to Charles VI the Beloved. Like Bertrand du Guesclin and Louis de Sancerre, he was buried in the Basilica of St Denis at the feet of the king he had loyally served.
Nicolas du Bosc, or du Bois, was a French politician, advisor to kings Charles V and Charles VI of France. He was one of the marmousets appointed by his detractors who took the governing of France from November 1392.
Guillaume IV de Melun, Count of Tancarville, Lord of Montreuil-Bellay, was a French politician, chamberlain and advisor to King Charles VI of France. He was one of the marmousets who governed France between 1388 and 1392.
Pierre Aycelin de Montaigut or Montaigu, Montagu, known as Cardinal de Laon, born between 1320 and 1325 and died 8 November 1388, was a fourteenth-century French cardinal, who was the bishop of Nevers (1361–1371) and bishop of the Diocese of Laon (1371-1386), advisor to the king of Charles V and peer of France.
Gilles I Aycelin de Montaigu or Montaigut, was a French Archbishop and diplomat who became Lord Chancellor of France.
Jeanne de Clisson (1300–1359), also known as Jeanne de Belleville and the Lioness of Brittany, was a French/Breton noblewoman who became a privateer to avenge her husband after he was executed for treason by King Philip VI of France. She crossed the English Channel targeting French ships and often slaughtering their crew. It was her practice to leave at least one sailor alive to carry her message of vengeance.
The sieges of Vannes of 1342 were a series of four sieges of the town of Vannes that occurred throughout 1342. Two rival claimants to the Duchy of Brittany, John of Montfort and Charles of Blois, competed for Vannes throughout this civil war from 1341 to 1365. The successive sieges ruined Vannes and its surrounding countryside. Vannes was eventually sold off in a truce between England and France, signed in January 1343 in Malestroit. Saved by an appeal of Pope Clement VI, Vannes remained in the hands of its own rulers, but ultimately resided under English control from September 1343 till the end of the war in 1365.
Jean Harpedenne II was a French aristocrat, administrator and military officer. He was the seigneur of Belleville and a Marmouset at the court of King Charles VI.
Olivier IV de Clisson (1300–1343), was a Breton Marche Lord and knight who became embroiled in the intrigue of Vannes and was subsequently executed by the King of France for perceived treason. He was the husband of Jeanne de Clisson who eventually became known as the Lioness of Brittany.
Olivier II de Clisson, the Younger, was a Breton frontier lord and son of Olivier I, the Elder of Clisson.
Jean II de Montmorency, held the office of Grand Chamberlain of France. He was the eldest son of Jacques de Montmorency and Lady Philippine de Melun of Croisilles and Courrières, daughter of Hugues de Melun d'Epinoy.