Guillaume Cale
Encyclopedia
Guillaume Cale was a wealthy peasant from the town of Mello in the Beauvais
north of Paris
, who rose to fame as the leader of the Peasant Jacquerie
which exploded into violence in May 1358 and rampaged for a month unchecked until the Battle of Mello
on the 10 June. Cale's origins are unknown, it is not clear how old he was at the time of the uprising, nor is anything known about his family and business ties, except that he was a reasonably well-off farmer.
not utterly ravaged by twenty years of warfare with England. It was still remarkably prosperous despite the attentions of the Black Death
, and maintained its wealth under the protection of the household troops of the French king and the other nobles who lived in and around Paris and depended on the region for their food and for taxation. However, in 1356, King John II
was captured by the English at the battle of Poitiers
. His exorbitant ransom began to drain the already depleted French treasury and the noble protection began to slip. In the spring of 1358 Paris exploded into violence, as a clothier named Étienne Marcel
seized the city with an army of townsmen and drove out the Dauphin
and formed a revolutionary commune, presided over by Marcel.
Cale was sympathetic to the Parisiens, and so when a similar rebellion began to ferment in the Beauvais, he rose to become its leader, directing the ragged bands of brigands that emerged from every village and forming a cohesive if rough raiding force, which was able to drive out the scattered opposition from noble bodyguards and retainers and take control of the region. Under his rulership this force ran amok, killing hundreds of nobles, retainers, and their wives and families amid scenes of appalling brutality. He was joined by contingents from the towns of Senlis
, Clermont
and Creil
and eventually could field 5,000 men, including several minor nobles, whose military expertise gave his force structure.
Cale conducted a campaign of reduction against local castles and forts designed to give his army more mobility, and his troops were substantial enough that they were able to menace local towns into feeding them under threat of destruction. The rebellion spread all around Paris, it was said flames could be seen from the walls on all sides. Amongst the castles taken was a royal dwelling at Montmorency
, which was burnt to the ground.
On the 7 June, just a few weeks after the uprising began, Cale drew his forces up on a hill near his hometown of Mello and awaited the arrival of a force of nobles and mercenaries commanded by King Charles II of Navarre
, which had been despatched to crush the rebellion. In an attempt to distract the advancing force, Cale sent 800 men to Meaux
, where the Dauphin was sheltering with his family. Dauphin Charles fled, leaving his wife and daughter to be besieged in the castle of Marché. This did not however distract the King of Navarre, whose force arrived on the 10 June. Promising safe passage, Charles of Navarre offered Cale a chance to discuss treaty terms in his camp, an opportunity Cale accepted. He left his lines, having prepared an efficient defence and entered the noble forces, from which he never emerged. Charles of Navarre was a true medieval aristocrat and as such never considered his promisies to a peasant to be bound by honour. The army of Jacques was destroyed in the ensuing Battle of Mello
.
Cale was dragged in irons to Clermont where, following brutal torture, he was beheaded in the town square, along with the remnants of his army. (Some accounts offer that he was tortured to death by being crowned with a red-hot crown.)
The Jacquerie was destroyed and the nobles enacted a bloody vengeance against the peasants who had threatened the social order of medieval France
.
Beauvais
Beauvais is a city approximately by highway north of central Paris, in the northern French region of Picardie. It currently has a population of over 60,000 inhabitants.- History :...
north of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, who rose to fame as the leader of the Peasant Jacquerie
Jacquerie
The Jacquerie was a popular revolt in late medieval Europe by peasants that took place in northern France in the summer of 1358, during the Hundred Years' War. The revolt, which was violently suppressed after a few weeks of violence, centered in the Oise valley north of Paris...
which exploded into violence in May 1358 and rampaged for a month unchecked until the Battle of Mello
Battle of Mello
The Battle of Mello was the decisive and largest engagement of the Peasant Jacquerie of 1358, a rebellion of peasants in the Beauvais region of France, which caused an enormous amount of damage to this wealthy region at the height of the Hundred Years War with England...
on the 10 June. Cale's origins are unknown, it is not clear how old he was at the time of the uprising, nor is anything known about his family and business ties, except that he was a reasonably well-off farmer.
The Jacquerie
In 1358 the Beauvais was perhaps the only region of FranceFrance
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...
not utterly ravaged by twenty years of warfare with England. It was still remarkably prosperous despite the attentions of the Black Death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
, and maintained its wealth under the protection of the household troops of the French king and the other nobles who lived in and around Paris and depended on the region for their food and for taxation. However, in 1356, King John II
John II of France
John II , called John the Good , was the King of France from 1350 until his death. He was the second sovereign of the House of Valois and is perhaps best remembered as the king who was vanquished at the Battle of Poitiers and taken as a captive to England.The son of Philip VI and Joan the Lame,...
was captured by the English at the battle of Poitiers
Battle of Poitiers (1356)
The Battle of Poitiers was fought between the Kingdoms of England and France on 19 September 1356 near Poitiers, resulting in the second of the three great English victories of the Hundred Years' War: Crécy, Poitiers, and Agincourt....
. His exorbitant ransom began to drain the already depleted French treasury and the noble protection began to slip. In the spring of 1358 Paris exploded into violence, as a clothier named Étienne Marcel
Étienne Marcel
Etienne Marcel was provost of the merchants of Paris under King John II, called John the Good .Etienne Marcel was born into the wealthy Parisian bourgeoisie, being the son of the clothier Simon Marcel and his wife Isabelle Barbou...
seized the city with an army of townsmen and drove out the Dauphin
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 formed a revolutionary commune, presided over by Marcel.
Cale was sympathetic to the Parisiens, and so when a similar rebellion began to ferment in the Beauvais, he rose to become its leader, directing the ragged bands of brigands that emerged from every village and forming a cohesive if rough raiding force, which was able to drive out the scattered opposition from noble bodyguards and retainers and take control of the region. Under his rulership this force ran amok, killing hundreds of nobles, retainers, and their wives and families amid scenes of appalling brutality. He was joined by contingents from the towns of Senlis
Senlis, Oise
Senlis is a French commune located in the Oise department near Paris. It has a long and rich heritage, having traversed centuries of history. This medieval town has welcomed some of the most renowned figures in French history, including Hugh Capet, Louis IX, the Marshall of France, Anne of Kiev and...
, Clermont
Clermont, Oise
Clermont is a small city in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.-Main sights:* Church St Samson containing numerous Painting from the seventeenth century...
and Creil
Creil
Creil is a large town in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.-History:Archaeological remains in the area include a Neolithic site, as well as a late Iron Age necropolis, perhaps belonging to a Gaulish fortress or protected camp.The city itself...
and eventually could field 5,000 men, including several minor nobles, whose military expertise gave his force structure.
Cale conducted a campaign of reduction against local castles and forts designed to give his army more mobility, and his troops were substantial enough that they were able to menace local towns into feeding them under threat of destruction. The rebellion spread all around Paris, it was said flames could be seen from the walls on all sides. Amongst the castles taken was a royal dwelling at Montmorency
Montmorency
- Places :In Australia:* Montmorency, Victoria, suburb of Melbourne** Montmorency railway stationIn Canada:* Montmorency Falls, Quebec* Montmorency , Quebec* Montmorency , Quebec...
, which was burnt to the ground.
On the 7 June, just a few weeks after the uprising began, Cale drew his forces up on a hill near his hometown of Mello and awaited the arrival of a force of nobles and mercenaries commanded by King Charles II of Navarre
Charles II of Navarre
Charles II , called "Charles the Bad", was King of Navarre 1349-1387 and Count of Évreux 1343-1387....
, which had been despatched to crush the rebellion. In an attempt to distract the advancing force, Cale sent 800 men to Meaux
Meaux
Meaux is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located east-northeast from the center of Paris. Meaux is a sub-prefecture of the department and the seat of an arondissement...
, where the Dauphin was sheltering with his family. Dauphin Charles fled, leaving his wife and daughter to be besieged in the castle of Marché. This did not however distract the King of Navarre, whose force arrived on the 10 June. Promising safe passage, Charles of Navarre offered Cale a chance to discuss treaty terms in his camp, an opportunity Cale accepted. He left his lines, having prepared an efficient defence and entered the noble forces, from which he never emerged. Charles of Navarre was a true medieval aristocrat and as such never considered his promisies to a peasant to be bound by honour. The army of Jacques was destroyed in the ensuing Battle of Mello
Battle of Mello
The Battle of Mello was the decisive and largest engagement of the Peasant Jacquerie of 1358, a rebellion of peasants in the Beauvais region of France, which caused an enormous amount of damage to this wealthy region at the height of the Hundred Years War with England...
.
Cale was dragged in irons to Clermont where, following brutal torture, he was beheaded in the town square, along with the remnants of his army. (Some accounts offer that he was tortured to death by being crowned with a red-hot crown.)
The Jacquerie was destroyed and the nobles enacted a bloody vengeance against the peasants who had threatened the social order of medieval France
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...
.