Charles VI ascended to the throne in 1380, just a tender lad of 11.
Things seemed pretty normal until he hit his mid-20s. That’s when the wheels started to come off the royal carriage.
In 1392, Charles had a full-on mental breakdown during a hunting expedition. He suddenly turned on his own men, killing several of them while shouting that they were all traitors.
After this episode, his behavior became increasingly erratic, and he earned his unfortunate nickname.
he believed he was made of glass. you heard that right. Charles was convinced that if anyone touched him, he would shatter into a million pieces.
He even had special iron rods sewn into his clothing to protect himself. This “glass delusion” was so intense that he forbade anyone from touching him, making court life incredibly awkward.
And then there’s the infamous "Bal des Ardents" (The Ball of the Burning Men) incident in 1393. The king and his courtiers decided to throw a masquerade ball, and Charles, always up for some extravagant fun, dressed up as a wild man of the woods.
He and several of his friends covered themselves in highly flammable resin and linen. Things took a dark turn when a torch accidentally set Charles and his friends ablaze. While Charles managed to survive, four of his companions weren’t so lucky
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