Jacquerie

Quick Facts: Who was Jacquerie?

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Jacquerie

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A massive peasant revolt in northern France during the Hundred Years' War (1358).

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Origins & Early Life

The Jacquerie (French: [ʒakʁi]) was a popular revolt by peasants that took place in northern France in the early summer of 1358 during the Hundred Years' War. The revolt was centred in the valley of the Oise north of Paris and was suppressed after over two months of violence. This rebellion became known as "the Jacquerie" because the nobles derided peasants as "Jacques" or "Jacques Bonhomme" for their padded surplice, called a "jacque". The aristocratic chronicler Jean Froissart and his source, the chronicle of Jean le Bel, referred to the leader of the revolt as Jacque Bonhomme ("Jack Goodfellow"), though in fact the Jacquerie's "great captain" was named Guillaume Cale. The word jacquerie became a synonym of peasant uprisings in general in both English and French.

Career & Major Achievements

After the capture of the French king (John II, Froissart's bon roi Jean "good king John") by the English during the Battle of Poitiers in September 1356, power in France devolved fruitlessly among the Estates-General and John's son, the Dauphin, later Charles V. The Estates-General were too divided to provide effective government and their alliance with King Charles II of Navarre, another claimant to the French throne, provoked disunity amongst the nobles. Consequently, the prestige of the French nobility sank to a new low. The century had begun poorly for the nobles at Courtrai (the "Battle of the Golden Spurs"), where they fled the field and left their infantry to be hacked to pieces; they were also accused of having given up their king at the Battle of Poitiers. The passage of a law that required the peasants to defend the châteaux that were emblems of their oppression was the immediate cause of the spontaneous uprising. The law was particularly resented as many commoners already blamed the nobility for the defeat at Poitiers.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The chronicle of Jean de Venette articulates the perceived problems between the nobility and the peasants, yet some historians, such as Samuel K. Cohn, see the Jacquerie revolts as a reaction to a combination of short- and long-term effects dating from as early as the grain crisis and famine of 1315. In addition, as a result of the temporary lull in hostilities of the Hundred Years' War due to the French defeat at Poitiers, thousands of soldiers and mercenaries on both sides of the conflict found themselves "without commanders or wages". Many of them responded by forming free companies, attacking both military and civilian targets such as castles and villages (often to ransom for a profit) and engaging in frequent acts of rape, looting and murder. Their ability to do so was exacerbated by the lack of an efficient government authority in many parts of France, which left the French peasantry disillusioned with France's nobility that was perceived as failing to meet its feudal obligations. This combination of problems set the stage for a brief series of bloody rebellions in northern France in 1358.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1315: 1315 Milestone — Cohn, see the Jacquerie revolts as a reaction to a combination of short- and long-term effects dating from as early as the grain crisis and famine of 1315.
2. 1356: 1356 Milestone — After the capture of the French king (John II, Froissart's bon roi Jean "good king John") by the English during the Battle of Poitiers in September 1356, power in France devolved fruitlessly among the Estates-General and John's son, the Dauphin, later Charles V.
3. 1358: 1358 Milestone — The Jacquerie (French: [ʒakʁi]) was a popular revolt by peasants that took place in northern France in the early summer of 1358 during the Hundred Years' War.

Notable Quotes by Jacquerie

“I dare not write the horrible deeds that they did to ladies and damsels...”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Jacquerie

True or False: “The Jacquerie revolt was primarily caused by the peasants' dissatisfaction with the nobility's failure during the Battle of Poitiers.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The defeat at Poitiers severely damaged noble prestige, and the subsequent law requiring peasants to defend châteaux fueled resentment.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ashikaga Takauji — Historical peer (Died in 1358) (1358): Founder of the Ashikaga Shogunate and pivotal figure in the Muromachi Period.
• Ashikaga Yoshimitsu — Historical peer (Born in 1358) (1358): Third Shōgun of the Ashikaga Dynasty, pivotal figure in Muromachi Japan.
• Giovanni Pisano — Historical peer (Died in 1315) (1315): Master Italian sculptor blending French Gothic and Roman antiquity.
• Jacques Anquetil — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Pioneering French cyclist, first five-time Tour de France winner and 'Monsieur Chrono'.
• Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Influential French theologian, orator, and staunch defender of royal absolutism.
• Jacques Barzun — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: French-American historian renowned for cultural history and the philosophy of education.

Frequently Asked Questions about Jacquerie