The Maid of Orleans
Dear all
It’s been French Enrichment Week in school, and in Monday’s assembly, we heard the story of someone who regularly appears in polls of the top 10 most influential and important people in French history, even though she died at the age of only 19.
Joan of Arc is known to almost every French citizen. She is also one of the most studied individuals from the Middle Ages due to the amount of documentary evidence from the trials she was put through. Her story is intertwined with that of the Hundred Years’ War, the intermittent conflict between England and France that lasted from 1337 to 1453, centred around the English claim to the French throne. In 1415, Henry V of England won a famous victory against the French at Agincourt, and five years later, the Treaty of Troyes promised him the throne when King Charles VI died, disinheriting his son, who was due to become Charles VII. This was the high-water mark of English power in France, and the scene looked set for Henry V to take the throne. However, just two years later, both Henry V and Charles VI died, leaving an uncertain future for France.
Meanwhile, Joan of Arc was born around 1412 in Domremy, a village loyal to the French King. Her father was a peasant farmer. Around the age of 13, Joan began hearing voices she believed came from God, instructing her to drive the English out of France and ensure that Charles VII was crowned king. She was eventually taken to Charles VII’s court at Chinon, where she persuaded him that her visions were genuine. At the age of just 17, Joan was sent to the town of Orléans, under siege by English forces since the outcome of which was regarded as pivotal. Her arrival in April 1429 greatly boosted the morale of the demoralised French army, and in part due to her bravery and inspiring efforts, the English were forced to lift their siege just nine days later. She then persuaded the French commanders to march to Reims, securing a crucial victory at the Battle of Patay along the way. On 17 July 1429, Charles VII was crowned with Joan standing beside him.
Her military success was short-lived – she was captured in May 1430 by the Burgundians and sold to their English allies. Terrified of the impact she had had on the French people, Joan was condemned as a witch and a heretic. Her trial began on 21st February 1431 and, despite a heroic defence, she was found guilty, in part for defying church law by wearing male clothing. On 30 May 1431, she was burned at the stake, but her legacy continues to this day.
She is revered as one of the key individuals who helped turn the Hundred Years’ War in France’s favour. Twenty-four years after her execution, a Roman Catholic court declared her original trial to be illegal and tainted by dishonesty, officially declaring her a martyr in 1456. She was made a Saint in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV and is now a Patron Saint of France. A powerful, enduring national symbol, Joan of Arc is not only seen as the military leader who saved the kingdom, but as a heroic woman who transcended traditional gender roles by succeeding in the typically male field of warfare. Centuries later, Napoleon authorised the renewal of celebrations in her honour, and her image has been used across the political spectrum as a rallying point for French identity and unity.
Have a great weekend
Best wishes
Michael Bond
