[MR] Wikipedia: The Bal des Ardents and Charles VI

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

On this date in 1393, the King of France, Charles VI was nearly burned to
death at a masque which became known as the *Bal des Ardents* ("Ball of the
Burning Men").

At a masked ball in 1393, originally billed as *le* *Bal des Sauvages*
("Ball of the Savages"), Charles and five other nobles portrayed hairy
"wild men", wrapping themselves in linen covered with resin to which flax
fibers were attached. As they cavorted among the other revelers, one caught
fire when he came too close to a torch held by the Duke of Orleans. The
flames quickly spread to the other dancers. Charles was hustled away,
largely unharmed. One of the dancers jumped into a handy vat of wine, which
doused his burning costume. The other four men died from their burns, and a
number of spectators also suffered injuries trying to save the dancers from
being flambéd.

Many in France saw this incident as a symptom of Charles' lifelong
madness, and questioned his fitness to rule. It actually happened during
one of his more lucid periods, and was the idea of Huguet de Guisay, one of
the four wild men who died from his burns.

The story of the ball is at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bal_des_Ardents .

More about Charles VI is at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_VI_of_France .

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Continuing a crusade to keep the original Merry Rose relevant and in
business.