Resistance and Rebellion against King Charles VII of France (1422-1461): A Study of Noble Networks and French Politics in the Fifteenth Century.

Abstract

Although the Valois monarchy suffered a series of blows during the 1420s, the reign of King Charles VII of France (1422-1461) has often been characterised as a time of ‘state’-growth and of increasingly inexorable progression towards the end of the Hundred Years’ War. This thesis takes an alternative approach to the politics of the reign. It argues that even as Charles VII’s power increased, he still faced persistent and potent opposition within France. This opposition came in a variety of forms – including pro-Lancastrian resistance, large-scale ‘internal’ rebellions, and regionalised revolts in Charles’ lands – but it was consistently underpinned by broad networks under French noble leadership. Through case studies, this thesis explores the workings and activity of such networks, their noble and non-noble constituencies, the causes and ideologies behind their actions, and the consequences of their defiance of the Valois crown. The study’s findings challenge traditional views of Valois triumph and the rise of the ‘state’ under Charles VII and his successors, alongside offering a fresh perspective on oppositional movements and rebellions, agency, power structures, and dialogue in fifteenth-century politics.