Joan+of+Arc



By Monica

Joan of Arc (in French: Jeanne d'Arc), was a peasant girl who led the French army to victories during the Hundred Years War, claiming to have been guided by voices of saints she supposedly heard in her head. She was born in Domr é my, France to a peasant family. Domremy was an area between the French lands of the Burgundians, allies of the English, and the dauphin, Charles VII (crown prince) and most of the villagers had begun to leave before Burgundian threats. Joan started to hear voices of St. Michael, St. Catherine and St. Margaret at age 13. She traveled in May 1428 to the captain of the garrison to request an audience with the dauphin, was refused and returned home. The second time, she was granted an audience and left February 13th. To him, Joan said she would get him to be crowned. She also said that she wanted to go to war. On April 27th, they set out for Orleans, which had been sieged by the English, since Oct. 1428. May 4th, she hurried towards an English fort and the French took the fort. On May 9th, Joan left to meet Charles the dauphin and convince him to be crowned at Reims. On June 18th, May 1429, the French and English fought the Battle of Patay. She had promised victory and the French did indeed win. Joan of Arc and the army went to meet up with the Dauphin, who then agreed to be crowned. On July 17th, 1429, the king was crowned, Joan of Arc there as well. Paris, to Joan, was crucial to take from the English. The attack of Paris happened on Sept. 8th. Joan of Arc called them out to surrender, and despite being wounded, she encouraged the soldiers before she had to leave. On September 22nd, the army disbanded at Gien and Joan stayed with the king. Later, her army laid siege to La-Charitesur-Loire and had to recede after, not getting supplies on time. On May 14th, 1430, she arrived at Compiegne. She went to Soissons but was refused entry. Joan decided to return back to Compiegne, but on the way back, she heard that siege was laid to it. Joan hurried back secretly, and on May 23rd, she led troops against the Burgundians. She repelled them, but then the English cane and the French had to retreat. She was protecting the rear guard, and so was one of the last when crossing the Oise River. Joan didn't have a horse and had to giver herself up, along with her 2 brothers. John of Luxembourg, a Burgundian captain had captured her. He imprisoned her but afterwards the English wanted her, so he gave her up for 10,000 francs. The English then fixed a trial at Rouen for her, in front of a church court. Joan was intereogated for a few months. The trial proper took 2 days for Joan to answer the charges. She claimed that she received divine prophesies and also wore mens clothing. On March 31st, she was questioned more, and later, her charges were dropped from 70 to 12. On May 24th, she was taken out to cemetery, to hear her sentence. On May 30th, 1431, she was seized and taken to the stake. Before she was lit on fire, Joan said that she did hear voices from God. The English king then sent news of her execution, a few days later.


 * Known as the "Maid of Orleans," or La Pucelle, after the French town she saved from the English.
 * In 1920, 489 years after her death, she was made a Catholic saint.
 * The saints she claimed to have heard were St. Michael, and two early martyrs, St. Catherine and St. Margaret.
 * The war continued 22 years after her death.
 * Pope Calixts then ordered an investigation, in 1455 and 1456, and Joan of Arc was not considered a heretic.
 * Supposedly, on her way to the stake, Joan asked a Dominican to hold a crucifix for her.
 * Every second Sunday in May, a festival is held for her.

"Joan of Arc." __The New Encyclopedia Britannica__. 15th ed. 2003.