---
title: Charles VI in Le Mans Forest
author: Bibliothèque nationale de France
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20899/charles-vi-in-le-mans-forest/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)
updated: 2025-09-01
---

# Charles VI in Le Mans Forest

_Authored by Bibliothèque nationale de France_

## Image File

[![Charles VI in Le Mans Forest](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/20899.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/20899.jpg)

## Image Caption

*Charles VI's fit of madness in the forest of Le Mans,* illumination on parchment by an unknown artist included in Jean Froissart's treatise *Froissart's Chronicles*, c. 1475.

King [Charles VI of France](https://www.worldhistory.org/Charles_VI_of_France/) experiences his first psychotic break in the forest outside Le Mans on 5 August 1392, when he suddenly attacked and killed four members of his own retinue after mistaking them for traitors. This event further cemented Charles' image as a "mad king" and led to his ridicule in the coming centuries.

Bibliothèque Nationale de France, [Paris](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/paris/).

## Cite This Work

### APA
France, B. n. d. (2025, September 01). Charles VI in Le Mans Forest. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20899/charles-vi-in-le-mans-forest/>
### Chicago
France, Bibliothèque nationale de. "Charles VI in Le Mans Forest." *World History Encyclopedia*, September 01, 2025. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20899/charles-vi-in-le-mans-forest/>.
### MLA
France, Bibliothèque nationale de. "Charles VI in Le Mans Forest." *World History Encyclopedia*, 01 Sep 2025, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20899/charles-vi-in-le-mans-forest/>.

## License & Copyright

[Original image](https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8438607b/f292.item.r=FR%202646#) by **Bibliothèque nationale de France**. Submitted by [Harrison W. Mark](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/harrisonwmark/ "User Page: Harrison W. Mark"), published on 01 September 2025. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, adapt, and build upon your work non-commercially, and although their new works must also acknowledge you and be non-commercial, they don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.