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 The civil service is a collective term for a sector of government composed mainly of career civil servants hired on professional merit rather than appointed or elected, whose institutional tenure typically survives transitions of political leaders ...

, 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. Their name, essentially the same as marmoset, referring to

monkey Monkey is a common name that may refer to most mammals of the infraorder Simiiformes, also known as the simians. Traditionally, all animals in the group now known as simians are counted as monkeys except the apes, which constitutes an incomple ...

s, was also a term for the English at the time.

History

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

Burgundy Burgundy (; french: link=no, Bourgogne ) 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. The c ...

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 are strawberries, raspb ...

Anjou Anjou may refer to: Geography and titles France *County of Anjou, a historical county in France and predecessor of the Duchy of Anjou **Count of Anjou, title of nobility *Duchy of Anjou, a historical duchy and later a province of France **Duke ...

and

Bourbon Bourbon may refer to: Food and drink * Bourbon whiskey, an American whiskey made using a corn-based mash * Bourbon barrel aged beer, a type of beer aged in bourbon barrels * Bourbon biscuit, a chocolate sandwich biscuit * A beer produced by Bras ...

served as his regents, entrusted with governing France. In November 1388,

Pierre Aycelin de Montaigut 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 La ...

, Cardinal of Laon, proposed in court that Charles VI relieve the dukes of their duties and assume control of the government. The marmousets

Bureau de La Rivière 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 D ...

Jean Le Mercier 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. Biography In 1358 he w ...

Jean de Montaigu Jean de Montagu or Jean de Montaigu (c.1349/50, Paris – Paris, 17 October 1409), was a royal secretary and pupil to Charles V, and subsequently an administrator and advisor to Charles VI of France, who became a leading figure in France during the ...

Nicolas du Bosc 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. Biography Born in Rouen, he wa ...

Olivier V de Clisson Olivier V de Clisson (23 April 1336 – 23 April 1407), 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 c ...

, Pierre le Bègue de Villaines and

Guillaume IV de Melun 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. Biography Guillaume IV de ...

soon became Charles'

privy council A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...

. 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

, Chamberlain to Charles V and advisor to Charles VI *

, Councillor to Charles V and Charles VI *

, Royal Councillor *

, Bishop of Bayeux *

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

of France *Pierre le Bègue de Villaines *

, Cardinal of Laon and Royal Councillor *

, Count of Tancarvile

References

External links

Hundred Years' War {{france-hist-stub