The Ball of the Burning Men (Bal des Ardents) took place on 29 January 1393. A masquerade ball was held involving men dressed in ‘wild’ costumes coated in pitch and flax. One of these men was set alight by a spark from a torch. The panic that ensued led to 4 men dying. The Ball of the Burning Men sparked outrage and concern across France as one of the men dressed in a pitch and flax costume was non other than the King of France: who survived due to the intervention of the 14 year old Duchess of Berry.
The madness of King Charles VI
King Charles VI of France had fallen into a bout of insanity in 1392. His behaviour had become erratic and, for a period, his doctors and courtiers had been unable to communicate effectively with the King. It left France in a dilemma over how to govern, and leading nobles had begun jostiling for positions of strength.
The King did make a recovery though, and throughout the remainder of his life the pattern of absence followed by lucidity continued to mar French politics.
Masquerade Balls
As the King was recovering from his first episode of incapacity, his wife Queen Isabeau, sought to keep the King entertained, happy and surrounded by loyal subjects. One such method was the use of balls. Isabeau and her courtiers put a great deal of time and effort into arranging extravagant balls to entertain and distract the King.
A favoured type of masquerade ball at the time involved a ‘charivari’. A charivari was a game in which 6 men of the court, usually knights, dressed as wild men. They wore costumes that made them look as though they came from the deepest, wildest woods. To enhance the image, the costumes were coated in pitch which could then have roughly torn flax stuck onto it to provide an extremely wild appearance.
These balls were nothing new. Arrangements were always in place to make sure that the men in costumes were safe. So, as the costumes were coated in pitch, no candles were lit whilst the game of guessing who these wild dancing men were took place.
Bal des Ardents, the Ball of the Burning Men
On 29 January 1393, the same process had been followed. Unfortunately, the Kings brother and his entourage arrived late and rather drunk. They were escorted by torchlight. One of the Dancing Men was soon alight. As he attempted to put out the fire, it spread to other men.
As others panicked, the 14-year-old Duchess of Berry realised that one of the Dancing Men was actually the King himself. To protect him from sparks from the burning men, she hid him underneath her dress. The King was saved. 4 of the men died from burns.
The ball soon became known as Bal des Ardents, the Ball of the Burning Man. A public outcry about the danger that the King had been placed in led to the whole court being required to undertake penance in public.
The incident appears to have affected the Kings mental health, he was once again in a state of absence shortly after the ball.
Ball of the Burning Men: Related Content
Coronation of King Charles VI of France