Joan of Arc, known as the Maid of Orléans, ignited a beacon of hope for a troubled France during the Hundred Years’ War.
This seventeen-year-old peasant girl, driven By divine voices and unyielding faith, arrived on the battlefield, defying convention and inspiring a war-weary populace.
As she led the French to victory after victory, her legend grew, only to be revealed by capture, betrayal, and eventual execution.
Yet, her dedication to her cause and her unwavering conviction have elevated her to an enduring symbol of courage, patriotism, and resilience. What truths do the stories of this icon disclose about her and about France in those tumultuous times?
A Peasant Girl’s Divine Mission
Born in 1412 to peasant farmers Jacques and Isabellette d’Arc, Joan prophetically envisioned divine guidance to drive her and her people forward. Her home in Domrémy, northeastern France, was amid the lands frequently caught in the crossfire between the English and the French in the Hundred Years’ War.
From the age of 13, Joan claimed to have heard voices and seen visions of St. Michael, St. Catherine of Alexandria, and St. Margaret of Antioch. These divine messengers urged her to go to the aid of Charles of Valois, the disinherited rightful king of France.
Joan’s divine visions continued with increased frequency and insistence. She felt compelled to act on this divine mission, seeking an audience with Charles VII and ultimately, to lead an army to free France from English rule.
Despite the danger and challenges of traveling through hostile territory, Joan persevered. Her divine mission became her driving force, ultimately leading her to become one of history’s most enduring symbols of courage, faith, and national pride.
The Anatomy of a Great Victory
In April 1429, Joan arrived at the besieged city of Orléans, where she played a crucial role in initiating a string of French victories. The English had constructed a series of forts around the city, aiming to starve it into surrender. However, Joan rallied the French troops and directed them to attack these forts. Despite initial doubt, her aggressive approach and tactical direction inspired the soldiers to fight bravely.
Under Joan’s leadership, the French troops captured several key forts, including the Les Tourelles. This victory allowed the French to regain control of the city and reopen essential supply lines. The once-skeptical soldiers came to believe in Joan’s divine guidance, which fueled their determination.
Joan’s historic success at Orléans was a turning point in the Hundred Years’ War, as it repelled English occupation and paved the way for French national consciousness to resurface.
Captured and Betrayed by Enemies
A little more than a year after her triumph at Orléans, Joan of Arc was taken captive by the Burgundians while attempting to retake the town of Compiègne.
The Maid of Orléans was then sold to the English and placed on trial for charges including heresy and witchcraft.
Despite her valiant defense, Joan of Arc was ultimately convicted and burned at the stake on May 30, 1431.
A Maid’s Crusade Against England
Joan of Arc’s visions and divine instructions compelled her to crusade against England, leaving her humble upbringing in Domrémy behind as she embarked on a heroically ambitious mission to restore French dominance.
Throughout her journey, she insisted on her sacred duty, rejecting the constraints of her family and community. At just thirteen, she began having visions of Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret, who urged her to support the Dauphin and drive the English from France.
Her parents, Jacques and Isabelle, were deeply concerned but eventually supported her insistence on fulfilling her divine mission. Her voices increasingly directed her to head to Vaucouleurs, where she met Robert de Baudricourt and demanded an escort to the Dauphin.
Despite initial rejection, she persevered and in February 1429, a small group of men accompanied her to the court of Charles VII. French leaders remain dubious, but Joan’s fervor and prophecies eventually won their support for her mission to the besieged city of Orleans.
From there, she led multiple successful battles, culminating in the capture of Les Tourelles, after which the English retreated. Her determination and spiritual conviction inspired the French, galvanizing them in the direction of victory against the English.
The Trial of a National Heroine
The authorities of Rouen captured and began the trial of Joan of Arc, the once celebrated ‘Maid of Orléans,’ on February 21st, 1431, an act that sought to systematically disprove her divine visions and discredit her role in the victory at Orléans.
This trial, which took place in the castle of Rouen under the supervision of the English, was conducted by French clergymen sympathetic to the English cause. The University of Paris, which had taken the English side, requested that the duke of Burgundy turn Joan over for judgment.
On July 14, 1430, the bishop of Beauvais, Pierre Cauchon, asked for her to be handed over, promising a payment of 10,000 francs. Joan was brought before a church court, where her outraged her judges with her claim that she communicated directly with God and that she wore men’s clothing as instructed by her voices.
The trial process was grueling, with Joan refusing to reveal the content of her visions and insisting on her moral freedom to attempt escape. She was interrogated nearly a dozen times, and on May 24, she signed a document renouncing her claims under the threat of immediate execution.
However, on May 28, Joan recanted her abjuration and was subsequently sentenced to death. Joan of Arc was executed by burning at the stake on May 30, 1431, in the market square of Rouen.
A Martyr’s Legacy Lives On
A Martyr’s Legacy Lives On
Eighteen years after her execution, Charles VII initiated a retrial, ultimately declaring the original verdict void due to bias and procedural issues. This new trial, which began in November 1455, was a deliberate process involving a panel of clergymen and theologians from across Europe.
Many of the same witnesses who’d testified against Joan in 1431 were called to testify again, with some attempting to distance themselves from their previous statements. The evidence mounted, and on July 7, 1456, the retrial declared Joan of Arc innocent of the charges that led to her death.
This posthumous vindication allowed Joan’s legend to grow, solidifying her status as a national heroine in France. She became a powerful symbol of resistance against the English occupation and a unifying force for the French people.
Her legend transcended national boundaries, as she was celebrated as a martyr and a model of devotion worldwide. This retrial not only corrected the historical record but also stirred the beginnings of a long-lasting legacy that continues to inspire people to this day.
Forging a New French Identity
Joan of Arc played a pivotal role in forging a new French identity during the Hundred Years’ War. Eighteen years after her execution, the nullification verdict reignited the flames of French national pride, illuminating a path for Charles VII to redefine French identity by celebrating Joan’s courage and sacrifice. Her martyrdom and subsequent canonization solidified her status as a national heroine, symbolizing French resistance against foreign occupation.
As her legend grew, Joan became an emblem of French nationalism, transcending her original role as a military leader. She represented a resolute determination to defend her country against external threats, fueling the patriotic fervor that had long been brewing.
Charles VII capitalized on this sentiment, leveraging Joan’s image to project a powerful national identity and unite the French people under a shared sense of purpose. By recognizing her as a saint and heroine, the French monarchy could legitimize its rule and reaffirm its sovereignty over the French territories.
Eternal Symbol of French Unity
Her canonization marked the apex of Joan’s transformation into an eternal symbol of French unity, transcending time and politics. This peasant girl from Domrémy, born around 1412, had led the French army to numerous victories during the Hundred Years’ War, embodying the spirit of resistance against English and Burgundian occupation. Her bravery, conviction, and unwavering loyalty to the French Crown made her a symbol of national pride, inspiring generations to come.
Joan’s legend has endured through the centuries, cementing her status as a unifying figure. The French Republic adopted her as an emblem of French identity, reflecting her defiance against foreign powers and her dedication to the French people.
In times of crisis and national struggle, Joan’s memory served as a rallying cry for unity, steeling the French to stand together against adversity. Today, she remains a powerful symbol, reminding France of its rich history and enduring strength.
Add Comment