Étienne Marcel

Étienne Marcel (c. 1302–1358), born into a wealthy Parisian family of cloth merchants, became provost of the merchants of Paris in 1354. As provost he defended the interests of the city's craftsmen and guildsmen.

As a leader of the Third Estate at the Estates-General of 1355 he demanded oversight of royal finances. After John II was captured at Poitiers in 1356, Marcel led a reform movement that forced the Great Ordinance of 1357 on the Dauphin Charles.

During the Jacquerie he backed Charles the Bad of Navarre against the dauphin, and on 31 July 1358 was killed while trying to open Paris's gates to Navarrese mercenaries.