Étienne Marcel

Étienne Marcel

Etienne Marcel (died 31 July 1358) was provost of the merchants of Paris under King John II, called John the Good (Jean le Bon).

Etienne Marcel was born into the wealthy Parisian bourgeoisie, being the son of the clothier Simon Marcel and his wife Isabelle Barbou. Etienne is mentioned as provost of the Grande-Confrérie of Notre Dame in 1350, and in 1354 he succeeded Jean de Pacy as provost of the Parisian merchants representing the mercantile leaders of the Third Estate.

His political career began in 1356, when King John was made prisoner after the battle of Poitiers. In conjunction with Robert le Coq, bishop of Laon, Etienne played a leading part in the Estates General called together by the dauphin Charles on 17 October. A committee of eighty members, formed by the two, pressed their demands with such insistence that the dauphin dismissed the states-general; but financial straits obliged him to summon them once more on 3 February 1357, with the consequence being, the promulgation of a great edict of reform. John the Good forbade its being put into effect, whereupon a conflict began between Marcel and the dauphin, Marcel endeavoring to set up Charles the Bad, king of Navarre, in opposition to John. The states general assembled again on 13 January 1358, and on 22 February the populace of Paris, led by Marcel, invaded the palace and murdered the marshals of Champagne Jean de Conflans and Normandy Robert de Clermont, before the prince's eyes. However, the murder of the nobles undermined Marcel's further support from the aristocracy.

Thenceforward Marcel was now in open hostility to the throne. After vainly hoping that the insurrection of the Jacquerie might turn to his advantage, he next supported the king of Navarre, whose armed bands infested the neighborhood of Paris. On the night of 31 July Marcel was about to open the gates of the capital to them, but Jean Maillart prevented the execution of this design. Etienne was killed by the guards at the Porte Saint-Antoine. During the following days his adherents were likewise put to death, and the dauphin was enabled to re-enter Paris.

Etienne Marcel married first Jeanne de Dammartin, and secondly Marguerite des Essars, who survived him.