Christmas Every Day

1393

Bal des ardente; The Dance of the Burning Men

Charles VI of France (1368-1422) was nicknamed “The Well-Beloved” but he had other names as well, such as “Charles the Mad”. In 1392, while on a military expedition, Charles suddenly went berserk, striking out at his attendants, killing four of his knights and pages before he was overcome and sank into a coma. For years after he would claim he was St George or that he was made of glass, that people were trying to kill him; he refused to bathe or change his clothes for months. He was removed from power and, on his doctor’s advice, kept constantly amused.

On January 28, 1393 his wife, Isabelle of Bavaria, held a masque for the king’s entertainment. Charles and six of his nobles were clothed as Wild Men of the Forest with shaggy costumes made of highly inflammable material. Careful instruction was given that there be no torches about as the men whirled, roared and capered. Midway though this performance, the king’s brother Louis, Duke of Orleans, entered, drunk and holding a torch. He either maliciously threw the flaming brand at the dancers or carelessly used it to peer closely at the dancers, but in any event, the Wild Men caught fire. The king was seized by his aunt who smothered the flames with her voluminous gown, another threw himself into a vat of wine, but the five others perished hideously.

This tragedy did much to discredit the court, especially the Duke of Orleans who was forced into a humiliating public procession of confession.