1380: Charles VI's Accession and the Government of the Uncles

Charles VI succeeded his father in 1380 and was crowned at Reims on 4 November 1380. He was still a minor: royal authority existed, but government was exercised by the great princes. The issue was not only “who decides”, but who controls revenues, offices, and access to the council.

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👑 A Supervised Minority

Charles V had tried to prevent minority crises by fixing an age of majority and organising a division of functions (guardianship of the children, government, finances). In practice the balance remained fragile: the queen had died before Charles V, and the princes wielded considerable political weight.

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🏛️ The “Uncles”: Power, Clienteles, Priorities

Three figures dominated:

• Louis of Anjou: external ambitions and warfare, need for resources;
• John of Berry: territorial power, political influence;
• Philip the Bold (Burgundy): northern strategy, Flanders, and the building of a princely power.

Government became a game of arbitration: finances, offices, favours, and military priorities. A collegial system took shape, and lawyers played a role in the state apparatus: Jehan Pastoret appears as royal advocate and president of the Paris Parlement.

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🧠 Key Takeaways

• Charles VI is a child king in 1380: the state functions, but real power passes to the princes.
• The “uncles” are not simply regents — they pursue their own political and financial agendas.