A Kingdom Divided: The Inheritance of Charles VI

On November 14, 1380, a 12-year-old boy was crowned in Reims Cathedral as Charles VI of France, inheriting a realm already teetering on the brink of crisis. His father, Charles V—known for his frail health—had anticipated an early death and attempted to secure the kingdom’s stability by distributing power among his brothers. The Dukes of Anjou, Burgundy, and Bourbon were appointed as regents and guardians, while trusted advisors like Bureau de la Rivière were sidelined.

This arrangement, meant to balance competing interests, instead accelerated factionalism. The royal uncles, already powerful regional magnates, exploited their positions to monopolize revenue and influence. The Duke of Berry, deemed incompetent by Charles V, secured control over Languedoc but delegated governance to his ally, the Count of Armagnac. Meanwhile, the late king’s reforms—including tax exemptions meant to ease public burdens—backfired, sparking unrest as towns revolted against perceived injustices.

England’s Woes: War, Taxes, and Rebellion

Across the Channel, England faced parallel crises. The war effort in France, led by the Duke of Buckingham, faltered as logistical failures and French resistance forced a humiliating retreat from Nantes in 1381. Back home, Parliament’s heavy taxation to fund these campaigns ignited widespread fury. The Black Death had already destabilized the economy, and now, the poll tax—tripled and stripped of exemptions—pushed rural laborers to the brink.

In June 1381, the Peasants’ Revolt erupted. Led by Wat Tyler, rebels stormed London, demanding an end to serfdom and the execution of corrupt officials. The 14-year-old Richard II initially conceded to their demands but later orchestrated a brutal crackdown. Tyler’s death at Smithfield and the king’s betrayal marked a turning point: the rebellion was crushed, but the social fractures remained.

France’s Tax Revolts and Urban Unrest

France, too, grappled with rebellion. By 1382, fiscal desperation led the regents to revive unpopular taxes on wine and salt. The response was explosive. Rouen’s wool workers rose first, followed by Parisians who seized the city and forced the crown to negotiate. Though the monarchy eventually suppressed these revolts—executing leaders and revoking urban privileges—the underlying tensions festered.

In the south, the Count of Foix exploited the Duke of Berry’s mismanagement to expand his influence, while rural banditry and noble feuds further eroded stability. The government, bankrupt and divided, could barely maintain its armies.

The Flanders Gambit and the Battle of Roosebeke

Amid this chaos, Flanders became the flashpoint. Ghent, led by Philip van Artevelde (son of a famed rebel and an English ally), crushed the pro-French Bruges militia in May 1382. Sensing opportunity, England planned a crusade to support Ghent, but delays proved fatal. By November, Charles VI’s army—the largest France had fielded in decades—marched north.

At the Battle of Roosebeke, French tactics triumphed over Flemish numbers. Artevelde died, and Ghent’s resistance collapsed. The victory restored French prestige but left Flanders smoldering.

Legacy of a Decade in Crisis

The 1380s revealed the fragility of medieval states. In France, royal authority was hollowed out by princely factions; in England, war and taxation bred revolt. Both kingdoms sought temporary truces, but the roots of future conflicts—the Hundred Years’ War’s resurgence, the Burgundian-Armagnac feud, and England’s Wars of the Roses—were sown in this turbulent decade.

For modern readers, this era underscores a timeless lesson: when governance fails to address inequality and fiscal overreach, even the mightiest kingdoms risk unraveling.