Joan of Arc

Lore & Background

Joan was born c. 1412 in Domrémy, a small village in the Meuse valley. Her parents were Jacques d'Arc and Isabelle Romée; she had three brothers and a sister named Catherine. Her father was a peasant farmer with about 20 hectares of land, supplementing income as a village official collecting taxes and heading the local watch. In 1428, she requested to be taken to Charles VII, later testifying that she was guided by visions from the archangel Michael, Saint Margaret, and Saint Catherine to help him save France from English domination.

Convinced of her devotion and purity, Charles sent Joan, about seventeen years old, to Orléans as part of a relief army. She arrived in April 1429, wielding her banner and bringing hope to the demoralized French army. Nine days after her arrival, the English abandoned the siege. Joan encouraged the French to aggressively pursue the English during the Loire Campaign, culminating in another decisive victory at Patay, opening the way for the French army to advance on Reims unopposed, where Charles was crowned king with Joan at his side.

After Charles's coronation, Joan participated in the unsuccessful siege of Paris in September 1429 and the failed siege of La Charité in November. In early 1430, she organized a company of volunteers to relieve Compiègne, besieged by the Burgundians. She was captured by Burgundian troops on 23 May 1430. After trying unsuccessfully to escape, she was handed to the English in November.

She was put on trial by Bishop Pierre Cauchon on accusations of heresy, including blaspheming by wearing men's clothes, acting upon visions that were demonic, and refusing to submit her words and deeds to the judgment of the church. She was declared guilty and burned at the stake on 30 May 1431, aged about nineteen.

Reader's Guide

Joan of Arc is a unique historical figure defined by her divine mission rather than dynastic ambition. Her role in the narrative arc centers on legitimizing the Valois claim to the French throne and reversing English dominance during the Hundred Years' War. Her primary 'powers' are symbolic: she possesses immense diplomatic weight regarding religious legitimacy and can boost military morale significantly, often allowing rulers to win battles against superior odds through sheer determination. She represents a force of nature that transcends standard feudal mechanics. Defining moments include her dramatic arrival at Chinon, the lifting of the Siege of Orléans, and the coronation of Charles VII. Her story concludes with her capture and trial, serving as a poignant reminder of the costs of faith and patriotism in a brutal medieval world.

Did You Know?

• Joan of Arc's name was written in a variety of ways; the first written record of her being called 'Jeanne d'Arc' is in 1455, 24 years after her death.
• In 1456, an inquisitorial court reinvestigated Joan's trial and overturned the verdict, declaring it tainted by deceit and procedural errors.