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 simply very close to the king. Thanks to this position, they were able to access the highest functions of the state. The Cardinal of Laon proposed in court that Charles VI dismissed the dukes of their duties and assumed control of the government on 2 November 1388,^[1] and like this the marmousets swore to stay united and friends, interdependent towards one another. Their relation ended on 5 August 1392 due to a loss of sanity by the king.^[2]

Their name, essentially the same as marmoset, referred to monkeys, but was also a term for the English at the time.

Bureau de la Rivière, Pierre de Villaines and Jean Le Mercier were imprisoned,^[3] Jean de Montaigu escaped to Avignon, and Olivier de Clisson was fined in 100,000 francs, dismissed of his title and banished from France.^[3] Although some of the other Marmousets eventually returned to their duties in minor posts, they were no longed a faction but many of their ideas were later put into practice by Charles VII, who became the natural heir of their policies.^[2]

Marmousets

• Bureau de La Rivière, Chamberlain to Charles V and advisor to Charles VI
• Jean Le Mercier, Councillor to Charles V and Charles VI
• Jean de Montaigu, Royal Councillor
• Nicolas du Bosc, Bishop of Bayeux
• Olivier V de Clisson, Constable 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