Jean Le Mercier
Encyclopedia
Jean Le Mercier, who died July 3, 1397, Lord of Nouvion
, was a French
politician
, advisor
to kings Charles V
and Charles VI
. He was appointed by his detractors as being one the Marmousets
. He was also Grand Master of France
.
and secretary to the king, soon becoming one of the most trusted advisors of Charles V. Appointed treasurer of wars in 1369, he performed on behalf of Charles V several diplomatic missions of financial interest. Charles V. ennobled him in 1374 and named him general of aid
. He was sent to Normandy
in 1378 with the task of strengthening the fortifications, negotiating the surrender of those controlled by the party in Navarre
, and also to proceed to the arming of a fleet. In 1383 he became steward
of the king, assuming his post as General of aid again.
In 1388 he became one of the advisors to Charles V, later recalled by his successor to take office as a member of the Council of King Charles VI. Having amassed an enormous fortune, he became very unpopular and accused of speculation. In 1392, under the government of the dukes who governed France during the king's illness, he was deprived of his power. In 1394 all his properties were confiscated and he was then banished from the kingdom. He took refuge in Cambrai
.
Nouvion
Nouvion is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Nouvion is situated north of Abbeville, between the Somme estuary and the forest of Crécy, on the N1 national road junction with the departmental road D111.-Railway:Nouvion had a station on the Noyelles -...
, was a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, advisor
Counsel
A counsel or a counselor gives advice, more particularly in legal matters.-U.K. and Ireland:The legal system in England uses the term counsel as an approximate synonym for a barrister-at-law, and may apply it to mean either a single person who pleads a cause, or collectively, the body of barristers...
to kings Charles V
Charles V of France
Charles V , called the Wise, was King of France from 1364 to his death in 1380 and a member of the House of Valois...
and Charles VI
Charles VI of France
Charles VI , called the Beloved and the Mad , was the King of France from 1380 to 1422, as a member of the House of Valois. His bouts with madness, which seem to have begun in 1392, led to quarrels among the French royal family, which were exploited by the neighbouring powers of England and Burgundy...
. He was appointed by his detractors as being one the Marmousets
Marmousets
The marmousets were counselors to Charles VI of France. Although they were neither princes nor civil servants, they were simply very close to the king. Thanks to this position, they were able to access the highest functions of the state...
. He was also Grand Master of France
Grand Master of France
The Grand Master of France was, during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration in France, one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France and head of the "Maison du Roi", the king's royal household...
.
Biography
In 1358 he was notaryCivil law notary
Civil-law notaries, or Latin notaries, are lawyers of noncontentious private civil law who draft, take, and record legal instruments for private parties, provide legal advice and give attendance in person, and are vested as public officers with the authentication power of the State...
and secretary to the king, soon becoming one of the most trusted advisors of Charles V. Appointed treasurer of wars in 1369, he performed on behalf of Charles V several diplomatic missions of financial interest. Charles V. ennobled him in 1374 and named him general of aid
Généralité
Recettes générales, commonly known as généralités , were the administrative divisions of France under the Ancien Régime and are often considered to prefigure the current préfectures...
. He was sent to Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
in 1378 with the task of strengthening the fortifications, negotiating the surrender of those controlled by the party in Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
, and also to proceed to the arming of a fleet. In 1383 he became steward
Steward
The term steward may refer to:- Titles and positions :* Arch-Steward, a seneschal, prince elector of the Holy Roman Empire* Steward, a flight attendant* Wine steward, a sommelier* Butler, the steward of a household...
of the king, assuming his post as General of aid again.
In 1388 he became one of the advisors to Charles V, later recalled by his successor to take office as a member of the Council of King Charles VI. Having amassed an enormous fortune, he became very unpopular and accused of speculation. In 1392, under the government of the dukes who governed France during the king's illness, he was deprived of his power. In 1394 all his properties were confiscated and he was then banished from the kingdom. He took refuge in Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
.