ABSTRACT
The century from 1345 to 1445 proved to be crucial to French history. The disintegration and reconstruction of the French monarchy during this century were closely linked to two recurring problems: the financial position of the crown and the political stance of the nobility. The weakness or alienation of important segments of the nobility also paralleled the periods of defeat, while the French monarchy triumphed in the 1370s and 1440s with the collaboration of this political and military elite. The fouage of 1363, granted by a central assembly and collected without dispute or ratification by local assemblies, was the first direct tax to be levied throughout Languedoil in time of nominal peace. It affected the vast rural population as well as the towns. The fouage enabled the crown to employ some members of the military class and to punish others who continued to disburb the peace.
