During the transitional period between the conclusion of the Hundred Years’ War and the end of the Italian Wars, the King of France initiated a comprehensive reformation of his military institutions. Despite the escalating use of judicial measures against combatants, the Crown also persistently issued numerous pardon letters to its soldiers, enabling them to escape military justice. This article delves into the intricate interplay between the royal prerogatives of dispensing justice and conducting warfare, elucidating the role of pardons in 15th and 16th century France. The granting of pardons to soldiers, employed to address logistical deficiencies inherent in a burgeoning monarchical state, illustrates the Crown’s necessity to adapt its response to the challenges of maintaining control over its armies. It showcases a delicate equilibrium between the coercive application of justice to preserve public order and the discretionary use of clemency to navigate the uncertainties imposed by the realities of war.