Joan of Arc

 
 

Joan of Arc is a fascinating woman.  She started out as a simple illiterate peasant girl.  At 13 she heard God speak to her and decided to devote herself to Christ.

 

At 16 she was hearing the Archangel Michael as well as 2 saints – Catherine of Alexandria and Margaret of Antioch.  They were telling her to save France and to crown the dauphin (French equivalent of the Prince of Wales).

 

She recognised the Dauphin in Chinon Castle and got his permission to lead an army.  She defeated the English at Orleans.  She stood beside the Dauphin when he was crowned in 1429.

 

She was charged with witchcraft (which seems a bit ungrateful).  The English found her guilty having captured Rouen by then and she was burned at the stake.

 

The pope overturned the verdict in 1456 but she was not made a saint until 1920.

 

Her feast day is 30 May.  Her emblems are armour and a battle banner.  She is the patron saint of France and French soldiers.

A Woman Who Shaped History – Joan of Arc

If you didn't know it had happened, you would think that the Joan of Arc story was pure fiction.  It is so amazing that a farmer's daughter could end up leading an army in the 15^th Century – it would be a remarkable achievement even in these modern times.

Joan was 16 when she was given an audience with the Dauphin, Charles.  The Dauphin was the King's heir.  It is amazing to me that he saw her for over 2 hours and then appointed her to assemble and head an army!

Joan must have been quite a sight in her white armour.  Her army was successful.  She didn't just stand at the back and watch, she was the person who erected the first scaling ladder and was wounded herself.

She wasn't as lucky in battle the following year, being taken prisoner by the English.  They arranged for he to be tried for heresy – with her use of masculine clothes being held against her.

Joan was burned at the stake in 1431 in Rouen.  She was canonised in 1920 – rather an about turn from being convicted of heresy!

Chinon

Chinon is a lovely town close to the Loire Valley in France. 

It has a ruined citadel on top of the hill. 

This is where I developed an interest in Joan of Arc.  It is here in Chinon in 1429 that she was said to have recognised the Dauphin despite him being disguised and asked to head an army.  (long story)

If you love France and history, don't miss it if you have a chance.

Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc died on this day in 1431.  A horrible death – burned at the stake.  Her story was an amazing one – a peasant girl who ended up leading armies and then given up to the English who burned her as a heretic.