Introduction
Joan of Arc or D’arc was a celebrated French heroine most known for leading a successful conquest of the English army in the 1420s. At the time of her birth, France and England engaged in a protracted battle known as the Hundred Years War that arose over the succession to the French throne. At the beginning of the 15th century, marauding armies occupied most of northern France. The conquest ended a prolonged conflict between English and French over the right to govern the French kingdom. However, Joan was burnt to death after being tried for heresy charges. Several years after her demise, the Roman Catholic canonized Joan as a saint. She was a crucial influence and her heroic deeds and military strategy awakened the French consciousness and nationalism.
Her Early Life
Joan of Arc was a military genius with a humble background and childhood. She was born in 1412 in Domremy, France, to a peasant household, as both her father, Jacques d’Arc, and mother, Isabelle, were farmers (Louis-Dimitrov and Jenn 3). From a young age, Joan learned to lead a religious life and do domestic tasks from her mother. Joan took charge of livestock on the farm and became very skilled in the sewing trade. She never ventured far from her home area as a child. In 1415, King Henry V conquered northern French territory and received support from the Burgundians (Louis-Dimitrov and Jenn 8). A subsequent settlement called the Treaty of Troyes granted the English King the right to govern the French kingdom. Thus, Joan grew up in a political context that involved a foreign king leading France.
Joan started experiencing visions from a tender age, which she interpreted as a divine message. At age 13, she heard voices commissioning her to a noble mission: saving France by ejecting foreign enemies and restoring the kingdom to King Charles (Orgelfinger 41). Joan chose celibacy to remain committed to her heavenly calling. At 16 years, she was able to persuade a local jury to release her from a pre-arranged marriage to pursue the mission (Orgelfinger 32). After intense cross-examination, she convinced Charles and his followers to let her lead French troops in a battle against the English king. She was first sent to rescue Orléans, a town besieged by the English army. Her victory in this place was significant in that it secured this territory from foreign invasion and established the French nation.
Military Conquest and Achievements
Apart from her pivotal role in the English conquest at Orléans, Joan had many other accomplishments on the battlefield. Inspired by her visions, she visited Vaucouleurs in May 1428 to wage another battle against the English (Louis-Dimitrov and Jenn 11). She reached out to Robert de Baudricourt, a close friend of King Charles and a commander. However, From Baudricourt initially declined to grant Joan her requests for military support. He would later give her a horse and some escort field marshals. She shaved her hair, adorned masculine combat gear, and successfully led this group through hostile territory to reach Charles’ court at Chinon.
Joan’s persistence and devotion were admirable and crucial to the French victory on the battlefield. Initially, King Charles was not sure how to treat the peasant woman who claimed that she could rescue France from English domination. However, he was convinced that Joan was the right person for that role after she recognized him from a horde of disguised men in the king’s court (Orgelfinger 87). Joan then sent a resistance letter to the enemy forces before leading many successful attacks against them. In effect, she was able to dethrone the Anglo-Burgundians from their strongholds, forcing them to cross the Loire River and out of the French territory (Louis-Dimitrov and Jenn 5). In another battle that she led, the French soldiers defeated the English at Patay to restore the throne to France.
The Demise of Joan of Arc
The historical significance of Joan extends to her canonization as a saint several years after her death. In 1430, King Charles required Joan to lead the Burgundian battle in Compiégne (Orgelfinger 31). However, while on her way to the town, she heard that commander of the Burgundian unit, John of Luxembourg, had initiated preemptive attacks on the city. She waited until it was dark and then covertly entered Compiégne. In her quest to protect the town and its people, she fell off her horse and was kidnapped by the Burgundians. She was taken to Bouvreuil, an area under the control of the British officers. She would later face accusations of practicing witchcraft and face trial.
In the court-martial that followed, Joan was required to answer several charges of witchcraft and blasphemy. She was found guilty and subsequently burnt to death by the Anglo-Burgundians. However, several years later, the Roman Catholics pronounced Joan innocent of all charges and canonized her as a saint.
Contribution
Joan was throughout her life known as the Maid of Orleans, as she experienced visions and could hear divine voices. The presumption of prophetic foresight was one of the few ways in which medieval women could appeal to people in power and kings. As Joan of Arc entered the battlefield, her Anglo-Burgundian rivals fought a war of words against her and the charge that the devil motivated her for the rest of her life. Joan would face slander and insults that were motivated by gender stereotypes. She was able to overcome barriers that prevented women from taking up military roles, which were seen as a preserve for men.
Perhaps her greatest contribution relates to human bravery in the face of imminent threats. Her trial was later found to be unjust, as political interests and gender stereotypes were the main motivation. Joan was not the only victim of the inconsistent process, which denied the accused legal representation and sanctioned the cross-examination under coercion.
Many lessons can be learned from Joan of Arc’s life. Her steadfastness in the cause of rescuing France from English domination is notable. Her faith inspired many people to believe in liberation and awakened the French consciousness. Dukes and nobility controlled medieval France, but Joan’s successful conquest of the English army motivated peasants to participate in military and political processes (Louis-Dimitrov and Jenn 12). Her influence in France grew with rising nationalism in the country. The French people joined forces against their common foe, the Burgundians and the English. France would later expand and establish many colonies across Europe and beyond.
Conclusion
Joan of Arc played a significant cultural and political role in medieval times. She helped organize and agitate for the rights and privileges of women. Joan was the first female army commander who led her unit to a victorious battle. She liberated her country from English domination and restored the throne to France. She challenged dominant stereotypes in a medieval culture that saw women as weaker than men.
Works Cited
Louis-Dimitrov, Delphine, and Ronald Jenn. “Introduction. Fashioning the American Joan of Arc”. Revue française d’études américaines, vol. 161, no. 4, 2019, pp. 3-17.
Orgelfinger, Gail. Joan of Arc in the English Imagination, 1429–1829. Penn State University Press, 2019.