Attempted murder on the person of Jean II of France

In March 1356, Charles II of Navarre reiterated an attempted murder on the person of Jean II of France after that of 1355 which failed thanks to the dolphin (future Charles V of France).

Project of the plot worked out by Charles II of Navarre

Jean II the Good guest with the baptism of the future Robert IV of Artois, count of Have, wire of Jean d' Artois, count of Have and Isabelle of Melun, this ceremony being held with the abbey of Large-Pre, the king of France prévut his displacement. A weak escort would accompany the king by France during this voyage in Normandy. Put at the current of the royal project, Charles II of Navarre worked out a plan intended to remove the king and to assassinate it.

Discovered plot by Jean II of France

Jean II the Good was alerted by his entourage of the plot warped by his cousin Charles II of Navarre against his person, it decided to prevail and make an example, which would give to think in the future of those which would dare to make an attempt on its life.

The dolphin present at the castle of Rouen invited the lords, the officers representatives the duchy of Normandy, the municipal officials of the city rouennaise to be feasted in its company. In this Tuesday April 5th 1356, Charles II the Bad one was held sitted with the top table at the sides of the dolphin Charles, some of the henchmen of king de Navarre also assisted with this banquet, among them, Jean d' Harcourt. The nephew of this last was absent did not appear among the guests, but dispatched all the same spies with the abbey of Large-Pre where the king of France attended the baptism. A strange event proceeded during this meal. The rider Colin Doublet presented himself to the castle of Rouen and asked for Jean d' Harcourt, this one to go to leave the room of the banquet when the dolphin challenged it. Why?

Arrest of Jean d' Harcourt and Charles II of Navarre

The ceremony of the baptism ended and Jean II the Good took the road of the " retour" for the Norman Vexin. But the light escort initially envisaged had made place with a more imposing royal continuation, hundred men composed it. The king of France slept in Mainneville in the night of the 4 to the April 5th 1356, small village located today in the department of the Eure at the skirt of forest of Lyons. April 5th in the afternoon, Jean II the Good penetrated in the room of the castle of Rouen where the dolphin shared its meal with its guests. Arnoul d' Audrehem penetrated the first in the room its sword with the hand while shouting: “That no one does not move where he died”! The king of France in armor moved towards king de Navarre and seizes it while shouting to him: “But, known, traitor! You are not worthy to sit you beside my son”! The dolphin wanted to interpose between his/her father and king de Navarre, but a waste of time and effort, the king of France was decided to punish the culprits. Out of him Jean II the Good seizes a mass and struck some Jean d' Harcourt, intimating to him to move towards the prison. During this time, the dolphin was in despair to see its guests thus treated. The rumor concerning the arrest of Jean d' Harcourt went good progress in the city of Rouen and caused the anger of Rouennais.

Execution of Jean d' Harcourt

Jean d' Harcourt, the rider Hake Doublet and two Navarreses left the city on board a cart. The block for the decapitation of the culprits was installed. The king of France remained deaf with the prayers of Arnoul d' Audrehem and the Charles dolphin which beseeched its pity for the four men. Jean II the Good ordered the execution of the culprits. Concerning Charles II of Navarre, his punishment was softer. He was imprisoned with the Châtelet with Paris, then with the fortress of Arleux, close to Douai

Internal bonds

Jean II of France

Charles V of France

Arnoul d' Audrehem

Charles II of Navarre

Jean d' Harcourt

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