The Story

This volume picks up right after the death of the powerful French king, Charles V. His son, Charles VI, is just a kid when he becomes king, and the real fight is over who gets to control him—and the kingdom. His uncles, the Dukes of Anjou, Berry, and Burgundy, immediately start jockeying for power, treating the royal treasury like a personal piggy bank.

Meanwhile, the people of Paris and other cities are fed up. Heavy taxes, imposed to pay for the ongoing war with England, are crushing them. The tension explodes in the Harelle rebellion in Paris and uprisings in other towns. Froissart walks us through these explosive moments, showing us the fury of the craftsmen and the brutal crackdowns that followed. It's a story of a kingdom on the edge, trying to figure out who's in charge.

Why You Should Read It

What grabs me about Froissart is that he isn't just listing dates. He's showing us how power really works when the central authority vanishes. You see the raw ambition of the king's uncles, the desperation of the taxpayers, and the fragile hope placed on a child. It reads less like a dusty history and more like a political thriller. You're constantly wondering who will make the next move and how the young king will navigate this minefield. Froissart makes these figures from six centuries ago feel immediate and human, driven by familiar motives of greed, fear, and a desire for justice.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves real-life Game of Thrones-style intrigue, but without the dragons. It's also great for readers curious about how medieval people actually lived and protested, not just how kings and knights fought. If you enjoy seeing history from the ground up—through riots, financial crises, and family squabbles—this chunk of Froissart's chronicle is absolutely for you. Just be prepared to get mad on behalf of some 14th-century Parisians.