The marmousets (referred to as ''les petites gens'') is a nickname, first recorded in the chronicles of

Jean Froissart Jean Froissart ( Old and Middle French: ''Jehan''; sometimes known as John Froissart in English; – ) was a French-speaking medieval author and court historian from the Low Countries who wrote several works, including ''Chronicles'' and ''Meli ...

, for a group of counselors to

Charles VI of France Charles VI (3 December 136821 October 1422), nicknamed the Beloved () and in the 19th century, the Mad ( or ''le Fou''), was King of France from 1380 until his death in 1422. He is known for his mental illness and psychosis, psychotic episodes t ...

. Although they were neither princes nor

civil servants The civil service is a collective term for a sector of government composed mainly of career civil service personnel hired rather than elected, whose institutional tenure typically survives transitions of political leadership. A civil service offic ...

, 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.

History

Charles VI was crowned in 1380, at the age of 11. His four unclesthe dukes of

Burgundy Burgundy ( ; ; Burgundian: ''Bregogne'') is a historical territory and former administrative region and province of east-central France. The province was once home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th century. ...

Berry A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples of berries in the cul ...

, Anjou and Bourbonserved as his

regent In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...

s, entrusted with governing France. In November 1388, Pierre Aycelin de Montaigut, Cardinal of

Laon Laon () is a city in the Aisne Departments of France, department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. History Early history The Ancient Diocese of Laon, which rises a hundred metres above the otherwise flat Picardy plain, has always held s ...

, proposed in court that Charles VI relieve the dukes of their duties and assume control of the government. 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. Le Mercier, de la Rivière and de Villaines were imprisoned, de Montaigu escaped to Avignon, and de Clisson was fined 100,000 francs, dismissed of his title and banished from France. 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.

Counselors

* Bureau de La Rivière, Chamberlain to Charles V and advisor to Charles VI * Jean Le Mercier,

Councillor A councillor, alternatively councilman, councilwoman, councilperson, or council member, is someone who sits on, votes in, or is a member of, a council. This is typically an elected representative of an electoral district in a municipal or re ...

to Charles V and Charles VI * Jean de Montaigu, Royal

* Nicolas du Bosc, Bishop of Bayeux * Olivier V de Clisson,

Constable A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. ''Constable'' is commonly the rank of an officer within a police service. Other peo ...

of France *Pierre le Bègue de Villaines * Pierre Aycelin de Montaigut, Cardinal of Laon and Royal Councillor * Guillaume IV de Melun, Count of Tancarvile

References

External links

Hundred Years' War {{france-hist-stub