The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Vol. 02 [of 13]

In Short

This volume serves as a meticulous, unflinching chronicle of early fifteenth-century France, capturing the volatile intersection of dynastic civil war and religious instability. It tracks the escalating violence between the rival factions of Burgundy and Orleans, the efforts of the University of Paris to resolve the papal schism, and the devastating impact of these power struggles on the common people. By documenting the granular details of political maneuvering, shifting allegiances, and the grim realities of medieval warfare, the text offers a sobering, authoritative window into a society struggling to find order within perpetual chaos.

The Story

The narrative begins in the wake of the assassination of the Duke of Orleans, an event that sets the stage for a prolonged, bitter conflict between the house of Burgundy and the supporters of the late duke, who soon become known as the Armagnacs. As the King of France slips into recurring bouts of mental illness, the vacuum of power is filled by competing princes of the blood. The Duke of Burgundy, seeking to consolidate his influence, rallies military forces under the guise of restoring order, while the Armagnacs position themselves as the true defenders of the crown, leading to a series of skirmishes, sieges, and diplomatic standoffs that tear across the French landscape.

Simultaneously, the book records the profound crisis of the Catholic Church. The Great Schism, marked by rival claimants to the papacy, paralyzes Christendom. The University of Paris and various high-ranking prelates attempt to force a resolution, leading to the Council of Pisa. This ecclesiastical upheaval mirrors the political chaos; as the council attempts to depose the rival popes and elect a new leader in Alexander V, the process is fraught with intrigue, poisonings, and the shifting loyalties of secular rulers who use the Church’s instability to advance their own territorial interests.

The narrative arc moves through cycles of failed diplomacy and renewed hostilities. The Duke of Burgundy, often viewed with suspicion by the princes at court, finds himself forced into open warfare to maintain his grip on the government. Each attempt at peace—such as the meetings at Chartres—is short-lived, as accusations of treason and bad faith quickly dissolve treaties. Towns are fortified, barricaded, and besieged, with the peasantry bearing the brunt of the devastation as soldiers move across the countryside, often living off the land and plundering the property of the vulnerable.

The ending of this volume finds the conflict deeply entrenched. The Armagnacs, having failed to secure the King’s favor, suffer significant losses and are forced into retreat, yet the cycle of violence remains unbroken. Foreign entities, including English troops, are drawn into the French power struggle, further complicating the internal divisions. The narrative concludes with the kingdom still profoundly fractured, the royal government effectively captured by competing factions, and the broader social fabric worn thin by the relentless demands of a war that offers neither clear victors nor a path to lasting reconciliation.

How It Unfolds

The crisis of legitimacy The book opens with the immediate aftermath of the Duke of Orleans' murder, detailing the legal and moral arguments presented by the advocates of the warring houses. This sets a tone of persistent, unresolved grievance that fuels the subsequent violence.

The ecclesiastical intervention The narrative shifts to the University of Paris and the Church, documenting the formal attempts to resolve the papal schism. These chapters emphasize the tension between intellectual, religious authority and the raw, military power of the feudal lords.

The mobilization of Burgundy The focus turns to the Duke of Burgundy’s military campaigns, specifically his brutal intervention against the Liegeois. This section provides a stark example of how noble alliances were forged through force and solidified by the suppression of internal dissent.

The descent into civil war As the King’s health fails, the narrative tracks the movement of armies toward Paris and the ensuing formation of the Armagnac party. The text catalogs the shifting tactical landscape, the occupation of key towns, and the systematic purging of political opponents from the government.

The failed treaties The final beats follow the desperate attempts at negotiation, all of which collapse under the weight of deep-seated mistrust. The book ends by illustrating how the political maneuvering of the elite only serves to entrench the suffering of the broader population.

The People

The Duke of Burgundy stands as the central, divisive figure, driven by an unyielding ambition to control the royal administration. He maneuvers through alliances and military force, consistently portraying his actions as essential to the King’s safety, while his rivals perceive him as a dangerous usurper. In contrast, the Duke of Orleans and his Armagnac allies seek to avenge the patriarch of their house, positioning themselves as the moral custodians of the throne. Their struggle is one of legitimacy; they view the Burgundian dominance as a corruption of the state that necessitates their own rise to power.

The King of France exists largely as a tragic, passive figure—a symbol of order whose mental illness renders him unable to exercise the authority claimed in his name. Around him, figures like the Duke of Berry and the Duke of Acquitaine operate as temporary stewards, often forced to navigate the volatile demands of the city of Paris. The common people, represented here by the militant butchers of Paris and the citizens of Liege, act as a volatile, unpredictable force that the nobility attempts to sway but ultimately treats with extreme violence. These figures, from the highest prince to the lowest rebel, are bound together by a system of feudal obligations that offer no stability, leaving each participant changed not by personal growth, but by the hardening realities of a state in collapse.

In Its Own Voice

Describing the ecclesiastical and political paralysis following the Council of Pisa, the author notes:

All Christendom was now divided in religious opinions, as to the head of the church, by the contentions of the two rival popes, who could not be brought to agree on the means to put an end to this disgraceful schism.

Reflecting on the lawless nature of the conflict as the Duke of Orleans addresses the king regarding the murder of his father, the narrative captures the widespread atmosphere of impunity:

In short, he has introduced such a licentiousness of manners into the kingdom that all sorts of crimes are committed, without inquiry or punishment following them.

What It's Really About

At its core, this chronicle is an exploration of the fragility of institutional power. It investigates the catastrophic consequences that occur when the mechanisms of justice and governance are hijacked by competing personal interests. The book asks whether a state can survive when its ruling class is more committed to factional victory than to the continuity of the realm. It highlights the tension between religious ideals and political necessity, arguing that when the Church becomes as divided and contentious as the secular state, the moral authority required to check violence evaporates. Ultimately, it is a study of how cycles of revenge and political opportunism, once ignited, become self-sustaining, leaving the populace to endure the weight of the elite’s inability to compromise.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the raw mechanics of medieval history will find this volume invaluable. It eschews modern psychological interpretation, instead offering a stark, event-driven account that reflects the perspective of a contemporary observer. Those who enjoy the intricate, often brutal political machinations found in historical epics will appreciate the relentless pace of the shifting alliances and the tactical details of sieges and skirmishes.

However, the reader must be prepared for the work's inherent difficulties. It is written in a dense, chronicle style that prioritizes the recording of names, dates, and locations over narrative suspense. The period attitudes—particularly the casual description of executions and the brutal suppression of urban revolts—are presented without modern moral commentary, which can be jarring. The language, while accessible in this translation, retains the formal, sometimes repetitive structures of fifteenth-century record-keeping. What stays with you is the overwhelming sense of exhaustion; as you read of city after city being brought to heel and the constant movement of armies, you gain a visceral understanding of the toll exacted by a society that has lost its center. It is not an easy read, but it is an essential one for anyone seeking to look past the romanticized facade of the Middle Ages to the chaotic reality beneath.