Histoire de France 1440-1465 (Volume 7/19)

In the turbulent years following the Hundred Years’ War, France begins to mend its wounds under the determined rule of Charles VII. This volume explores how the king, confronting a shattered monarchy and restless provinces, turned to the very people most affected by the chaos—small nobles, merchants, and peasants—to rebuild a more disciplined realm. Through vivid accounts of new ordinances, the curbing of rogue captains, and the rise of disciplined artillery under Jean Bureau, the narrative shows how law and fiscal reform became tools for national recovery.

The book also shines a light on the unexpected heroes of this transformation: the financier Jacques Cœur, whose clever branding symbolized a new kind of loyalty, and the modest bureaucrats whose rise signaled a shift from feudal privilege to merit‑based service. Listeners will gain a clear sense of how strategic governance, combined with popular support, set the stage for France’s resurgence long before the final battles were won.