The duke de Berry, brother of Louis XI., at the age of sixteen escaped
from the court, and joined the duke of Brittany, for the purpose of
exciting a revolution which might prove favourable to him. The princes
of the blood and the nobles, who waited for some outbreak to make war
against the king, immediately issued manifestoes, in which they invited
the noblesse, and all good citizens, “to take up arms, to obtain relief
for the poor distressed people.” This specious pretext procured for
this union of rebels the name of “The League for the Public Good.”
The princes soon found themselves at the head of a pretty considerable
army; and in order to commence by something brilliant, capable of
giving credit to the revolt, after having gained several small places,
they resolved to make a general assault upon the capital. But Paris
was too well fortified to make the success of such an enterprise at
all probable. The count de Charolais, the head of the leagued troops,
drew up his soldiers in order of battle within sight of the ramparts.
He believed this display would disconcert the zeal and fidelity of
the inhabitants; but nothing could shake them. The marshal De Rohan
made a sortie, and did not return until he had skirmished long and
successfully. Some days after, the enemy attacked the faubourg Saint
Lazare, the barriers of which were upon the point of being forced, when
the citizen-militia coming up, courageously repulsed the rebels, who,
harassed at the same time by the artillery from the ramparts, retired
in disorder.
The battle of Montlhéry suspended for a time the project of the
princes. But scarcely was that celebrated contest decided, than the
count de Charolais made fresh attempts upon the capital. Our readers
will the better understand the hardihood and persistency of the count’s
attacks, when reminded that he was the son of the duke of Burgundy,
and was afterwards known as “Charles the Bold.” As the royalists
were masters of St. Cloud and Charenton, the leader of the enemy’s
troops caused bridges of boats and casks tied together to be hastily
constructed, upon which his army crossed the Seine at various times.
He thus inclosed within a half-circle all the northern part of the
environs of Paris, extending from St. Cloud to Charenton, of which
he took possession without much trouble. Louis XI. and his troops
were encamped on the southern side. The loss of Charenton might
have intercepted the supply of provisions to the capital, but such
prudent measures had been taken, that during the whole of the siege
no deficiency in food was felt. The princes at first had recourse
to negotiations, but they proved useless; and both sides renewed
hostilities, which were warm and frequent. Sorties were made every
day, and these combats generally terminated in favour of the king’s
troops. The honour of this was principally due to the fair sex of
the capital: “For the warriors,” says Philip de Commines, “beheld
the ladies at all times; giving them a desire to show their prowess
in their sight.” The enemy had placed their advanced posts at Bercy,
which was then called “La Grange-aux-Merciers.” They were obliged to
abandon them, and retire to Conflans, the head-quarters of the count
de Charolais. The royal army occupied the opposite bank of the Seine.
Several batteries, which defended the access to it, were erected there.
The leagued princes undertook to throw a bridge of boats across the
river, opposite the Port-à-l’Anglais. The king immediately constructed
a bulwark, from which artillery, incessantly hurling its mortal
thunders, prevented them from advancing. At the same time, a Norman
archer, whose name history ought to have preserved, threw himself into
the Seine, and contrived to reach the head of the bridge, of which
he cut the cables that fastened it to the shore, and abandoned it to
the current. This series of ill-fortune induced the League general to
resume the interrupted negotiations, and at length, after numerous
contentions and delays, a treaty of peace was concluded at Conflans,
which delivered Paris from its besiegers. The capital signified its joy
by brilliant festivals. The king, to reward its fidelity, confirmed all
its privileges: he honoured with his presence a banquet at the Hôtel
de Ville, at which many citizens and their wives were admitted to the
table of the monarch, with the princes and nobles.