1364: The Death of John II and the Transition to Charles V
p5John II the Good: Captivity, Internal Crisis, and the Treaty of Brétigny (1350–1364) · HIGH MIDDLE AGES
The reign of John II ends in 1364. After the ransom and peace agreements, the monarchy remains under pressure. The Dauphin Charles, trained by years of regency and crisis, is ready to take over.
🌫️ An End of Reign at an Impasse
The Brétigny truce does not erase financial urgency: the ransom is difficult to pay and hostages remain detained. In a country ravaged by companies, John II seeks external solutions (Avignon, crusade project), then decides to return to London to renegotiate.
🔍 Zoom – 1363–1364: Avignon, Crusade Project, Return to London, and Funeral
👑 Continuity Strengthened by Crisis
The king’s captivity has forced the apparatus of state to function otherwise: negotiate, raise resources, govern without the sovereign present. This experience strengthens the administrative culture and decision-making capacity of the future Charles V.
⚰️ Death and Funeral
John II dies in London on April 8, 1364. Chronicles do not explain the cause with certainty: what matters most is the context of exhaustion and constraints linked to captivity.
The body is returned to the kingdom in early May. The remains are exposed, funerals are prepared at Notre‑Dame, then the king is buried at the Basilica of Saint‑Denis, necropolis of the kings of France.
🧠 To Remember
- 1364: the end of John II’s reign.
- The transition to Charles V opens a phase of reconstruction and reconquest.