1440: The Praguerie and the discipline of the great nobles

A monarchy reconquering its realm must also defend itself from within. Military and fiscal reforms strengthened the centre, but alarmed princes and great lords.

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⚔️ The Ordinance of Orléans (1439)

In 1439, the Estates General of the langue d’oïl, assembled under the presidency of King Charles VII at Orléans, expressed the wish that reform be undertaken to put an end to the disorders caused by the routiers and écorcheurs.

By the Ordinance of Orléans, issued on 2 November 1439 by King Charles VII, two reforms were decided:

1. The king henceforth reserved for himself the exclusive right to raise companies of men-at-arms, with free companies henceforth prohibited.
2. The royal army was required to observe a rigorous disciplinary code.

The king also decreed the unification of the royal taille tax, at the expense of seigneurial tailles, to finance the creation of a permanent royal army.

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⚔️ The Praguerie (1440)

The Ordinance of Orléans provoked the reaction of the kingdom’s feudal lords, who refused any encroachment on their medieval prerogatives in favour of the centralising royal power.

In 1440, the great vassals took up arms in a rebellion against King Charles VII. This conspiracy is known as the Praguerie, by allusion to the Hussite revolts in Prague at the beginning of the 15th century. Among the conspirators were Jean II, Jean IV of Armagnac, Charles I of Bourbon, Louis I of Bourbon-Vendôme and even Dauphin Louis, the future Louis XI, eager to seize power by eliminating his father.

The conspirators took up arms, but were refused support by lords who remained loyal to King Charles VII. After much fighting, the royal troops, personally led by King Charles VII, finally overcame the rebels on 19 July 1440. The latter asked for mercy and obtained it from the king. His son Louis was sent away to the Dauphiné, whose governance he would assume as Dauphin of Viennois.

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👑 The outcome: reinforced authority

The revolt was crushed. The effect was lasting: Charles VII strengthened his capacity to impose political discipline, an indispensable condition for military reform and for the reconquest.

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🧠 Key points

• 2 November 1439: Ordinance of Orléans — military and fiscal reform
• 1440: revolt of the Praguerie against royal power
• 19 July 1440: victory of Charles VII over the rebels
• 1440 pitted a feudal logic (dispersed powers) against a state logic (stabilised power)
• The king’s victory prepared the military successes of the following years