Jean Le Mercier, who died 3 July 1397, Lord of
Nouvion, was a French
politician
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...
,
advisor
An adviser or advisor is normally a person with more and deeper knowledge in a specific area and usually also includes persons with cross-functional and multidisciplinary expertise. An adviser's role is that of a mentor or guide and differs categor ...
to kings
Charles V Charles V may refer to:
* Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558)
* Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain
* Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise
* Charles V, Duke of Lorraine (1643–1690)
* Infan ...
and
Charles VI. He was appointed by his detractors as being one the
Marmousets
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 clos ...
. He was also
Grand Master of France
The Grand Master of France (french: Grand Maître de France) was, during the and Bourbon Restoration in France, one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France and head of the "", the king's royal household. The position is similar to that of ...
.
Biography
In 1358 he was
notary
A notary is a person authorised to perform acts in legal affairs, in particular witnessing signatures on documents. The form that the notarial profession takes varies with local legal systems.
A notary, while a legal professional, is disti ...
and secretary to the king,
soon becoming one of the most trusted advisors of Charles V. Appointed treasurer of wars in 1369,
[ he performed on behalf of Charles V several diplomatic missions of financial interest. Charles V. ennobled him in 1374 and named him general of aid.][ He was sent to ]Normandy
Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...
in 1378 with the task of strengthening the fortifications, negotiating the surrender of those controlled by the party in Navarre
Navarre (; es, Navarra ; eu, Nafarroa ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre ( es, Comunidad Foral de Navarra, links=no ; eu, Nafarroako Foru Komunitatea, links=no ), is a foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, ...
, and also to proceed to the arming of a fleet. In 1383 he became steward of the king, assuming his post as general of aid again.[
In 1388 he became one of the advisors to Charles V, later recalled by his successor to take office as a member of the council of King Charles VI. Having amassed an enormous fortune, he became very unpopular and accused of speculation.]Cambrai
Cambrai (, ; pcd, Kimbré; nl, Kamerijk), formerly Cambray and historically in English Camerick or Camericke, is a city in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, department and in the Hauts-de-France Regions of France, regio ...
.
References
;Attribution
*''This article is based on the translation of the corresponding article of the French Wikipedia. A list of contributors can be found there at the'
History
''section''.
1397 deaths
French politicians
Grand Masters of France
Year of birth unknown
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