Joan of Arc (French: Jeanne d'Arc; English: Joan of Arc, 1412 – May 30, 1431), [6] translated Jeanne Ducke, nicknamed "The Maid of Orl é ans" (French: La Pucelle d'Orl é ans; English: The Maid of Orl é ans), French national hero, Catholic saint, and important figure in the 100-year war between Britain and France.
Joan of Arc, a former rural girl, claimed to have been "inspired by the Lord" when she was 13 years old and asked her to lead the army to recover the lost land occupied by England. After several twists and turns, Joan of Arc was granted the military power by Prince Charles. She successfully lifted the siege of Orleans in 1429, and broke the British army in the Battle of Patty in the same year. In a few months, she recovered a large number of lost lands in northern France, captured Reims, escorted Charlie to Reims Cathedral and became Charles VII. However, she was captured by the Principality of Burgundy in a conflict in Gongbine in 1430, and was soon bought by the Englishmen with a large sum of money. The religious judge under the control of the English authorities sentenced her to fire for heresy and witchcraft. In 1431, Joan of Arc was killed in Rouen, France, at the age of 19. When the British army was completely expelled from France, the Holy See ordered a retrial of the case of Joan of Arc, and finally vindicated her in 1456. In 1920, Pope Benedict XV made Joan of Arc a saint [5].
Joan of Arc is an important figure in promoting the awakening of French national consciousness. She has also become an important symbol of western culture behind her [30]. Since Napoleon, French military and political figures have used her image to carry out propaganda from different angles; The church regards its deeds as miracles [22]. Major European writers and composers have created works about Joan of Arc, and a large number of films, plays and music creations with her as the theme have also continued.

Childhood experience
The birthplace of Joan of Arc
The birthplace of Joan of Arc [31]
Joan of Arc was born in a village called Dombr é my-la-Pucelle on the border between Champagne-Arden and Lorraine in modern France. Her father was Jacques d'Arc, and her mother was Isabelle Rom é e. Her parents owned about 50 acres of land and ran a farm. At the same time, her father also held a less important official position in the village, responsible for collecting taxes and leading the work of guarding the village. This village is one of a small isolated area in the northeast of France that is still loyal to the French royal family. It is surrounded by Burgundian territory. In Joan's childhood, the village was attacked several times, one of which even set the village on fire. [7]
France, before Joan of Arc came to prominence, was the darkest period in French history. The centennial war between Britain and France caused a lot of suffering to the French people. A large area in the north of France is occupied by the English army, and these areas are likely to be permanently become English territory in the name of the "Second Kingdom". At that time, the French royal family was in chaos. King Charles VI was mentally ill. The king's two relatives, the Duke of Burgundy and the Duke of Orleans, Louis, often quarreled over power. Their supporters were known as the Burgundy faction and the Amaniac faction. It was through this political chaos that Britain invaded France and occupied the towns in the north of France. The Duke of Burgundy allied with Britain and openly opposed the French royal family. By 1429, almost the whole northern part of France, as well as a part of the south-west part, were under foreign control. England occupied Paris, while the Burgundians occupied Reims. The importance of Reims lies in that it has always been the traditional place for the coronation and consecration ceremony of the French king, especially at this time, none of the French royal family members who claimed the throne had been crowned. At this time, England launched an offensive against Orleans, which was located on the Loire River, and became the last strategic place to stop the British army from driving straight into the remaining French territory. The survival of the French nation is facing an unprecedented crisis. According to modern historians, "the fate of the whole kingdom depends on Orleans". [28]
In the later vindication of Joan of Arc's heresy charges, the villagers testified that Joan of Arc was an excellent, simple and pious girl. Another villager recalled that Joan of Arc was generous to the poor, and even gave them his bed to sleep, while he slept on straw. Sometimes, Joan would share dinner with the poor.
Joan of Arc summoned
Joan of Arc summoned (3)
Joan of Arc later confirmed that she met her first miracle in 1424. She allegedly met the archangels St. Michael, St. Margarita and St. Galena and told her to drive the Englishmen away and lead the crown prince to Reims for the coronation ceremony. [7]
When she was 16 years old, she asked her relative Durand Lassois to take her to the nearby Vokular, where she explained her intention to the local garrison commander Robert de Baudricourt, hoping to take her to the crown prince's seat - Shinon. Botrykul just laughed at her, but this did not make Joan quit. [7] [34]
Joan of Arc came again in January of the next year, accompanied by two soldiers who supported her: Jean de Metz and Bertrand de Poulegny. With their support, she got a second interview. During the conversation, she also said some magical war forecasts and predicted that the French army near Orleans would be defeated in the Battle of Herring.

Go to legend
Joan of Arc knelt before Prince Charles
Joan of Arc kneels in front of Prince Charles [31]
After news from the front confirmed Joan's prediction, Botrykul finally agreed to escort her to Shinon. She disguised herself as a man, crossed the vast territory of the enemy Burgundy, and finally reached the castle of Prince Charles in Hinon. It is said that when meeting Charlie, Charlie made people pretend to be the prince in order to prove that Joan of Arc was the messenger of God, but Joan of Arc recognized him as the prince. In short, during the meeting, Joan of Arc impressed Charlie very deeply. Charlie then directed the background investigation and theological examination of Joan of Arc in Poitiers to confirm her morality. Finally, the investigation committee concluded that Joan of Arc was a good Catholic with firm religious belief, good virtue and clear spirit. At this time, Charlie's mother-in-law Yolande of Aragon raised funds to launch an expedition to save Orleans. Joan of Arc asked to participate in the expedition and put on knights' equipment. Because she did not have her own funds, her armor, horses, swords, flags and entourage expenses were donated by others. [7] [34]
Historian Stephen W Richey explained why Joan of Arc was appointed: "After years of shameful failure in the battlefield, the French government has been demoralized and discredited in the leadership of the army and the people. When Prince Charles agreed to lead his army and prepare for war by Joan of Arc, he was likely to have tried all the formal and rational strategic choices, but all failed; only a regime that has reached the final stage of survival and is completely helpless will believe in despair A rural illiterate girl who claimed to be instructed by God asked her to command the country's army. " [22]
Joan of Arc wore short hair and men's clothes in the battle, which became the key to her conviction in the later trial. It is said that her flag is white with a picture of Jesus painted on it. Joan of Arc has always said that she was sent by God. Her arrival made the war become religious and "made the common psychological state of the French nation grow rapidly... aroused incomparable enthusiasm for resistance among soldiers and residents". [34]
Joan of Arc appearing in the battlefield
Joan of Arc appearing in the battlefield (2)
Joan of Arc's army arrived on the battlefield on April 29, 1429, but the then French commander, Jean de Dunois, and other generals drew up their own battle plans, and began to fight without informing Joan of Arc. Joan of Arc was furious when she realized this. Ignoring the judgment of other experienced commanders who planned to supply Orleans first, Joan of Arc advocated to attack the British army directly. She threw herself into every small-scale battle, was at the forefront of the battle, and carried her obvious flag with her. The actual leadership of Joan of Arc on the battlefield has always been one of the disputes in history. Witnesses claimed that she often made quite wise decisions on the battlefield, but soldiers and generals often regarded her victory as the achievement of God's mysterious power. Traditional historians such as Edouard Perroy concluded that Joan of Arc's leading role in the battlefield was mainly in morale. These analyses are often based on the testimony of Joan of Arc at the trial later. Joan of Arc claimed that she paid more attention to her military flag than her sword. Recently, scholars have often pointed out in the interpretation of trial testimony that the officers who followed her regarded her as a resourceful tactician and a successful strategist. Stephen W. Richey argued that "she continued to lead the army to carry out a series of incredible victories, reversing the situation of the whole war." In either case, historians agree that the French army can create quite extraordinary victories under her leadership.

Leading the army
Main entry: Battle of Orleans, Battle of Patty
Joan of Arc despised the strategy of the French generals who had always acted cautiously. She used a fierce frontal offensive to attack those British fortresses on the battlefield. After capturing several fortresses, the British army began to abandon other wooden defensive buildings and concentrated the remaining forces to defend a stone fortress, les Tourelles, which controlled the bridge outside Orleans. On May 7, 1429, the French army began to attack Tuiler. Joan of Arc was shot in the shoulder by an arrow during the battle and was carried away from the front line by the soldiers, but she quickly pulled out the arrow and returned to the battlefield, leading the army to launch the final attack. [7] This service relieved the threat of Orleans and restored contact with all regions in central France. Joan of Arc lifted her siege for seven months in nine days. Her victory in Orleans spread throughout France and made her famous. She was awarded the title of "The Maid of Orl é ans". [34]
The rapid victory in Orleans made the French army begin to plan further offensive. The English expected that the next target of the French army would be Paris or Normandy; Duke Dinois later confirmed that this was indeed the original goal, but Joan of Arc insisted on asking Charlie to allow her to recover the area along the Loire River and remove the obstacles for the crown prince to go to Reims. [34] After a series of unexpected victories, Joan of Arc persuaded Charlie to give her and Prince Alongson full command of the army, and obtained permission to attack the bridge near the Rohr River, as a prelude to later attack Lance. This is a rather bold proposal, because Reims is twice as far away as Paris and has penetrated into enemy territory. [7]
Joan of Arc in the Battle of Patty
Joan of Arc in the Battle of Patty
The French army captured Yarra on June 12, Mern on the Loire on June 15, and then Borussi on June 17. Duke Alongson fully supported Joan's decision. Other generals, including the Duke of Dinois, were also impressed by Joan's victory in Orleans and became loyal supporters of Joan. Joan of Arc also saved his life by warning Alongson to avoid the coming artillery in the battle of Yarra [35]. In the same battle, she was also hit by a stone in her helmet while climbing the siege ladder, but she still insisted on fighting. On June 18, the English reinforcements under the command of John Fastoff arrived. Next, the French vanguard troops launched a surprise attack before the formation of the British longbow soldiers was ready, annihilated or captured a large number of British troops in the next battle, and captured British commanders Talbot, Skeles, Sir Thomas Lampton and others. The French army suffered only minimal casualties in the campaign [36]. [7] This campaign can be seen as a reversal of the Agincourt campaign.
Joan of Arc prohibited the killing of prisoners of war. She even confessed for a dying British soldier (at that time, people thought that people without confession would go to hell).
The French army began to attack Reims from Mern on the Loire River on June 29, and kept Auxerre neutral in the negotiation with the Burgundy city Auxerre on July 3, so the French army was able to pass, and other towns on the way returned to the French side without resistance. Truwa, who had signed the Treaty of Truwa before, also surrendered after four days of siege. After the army arrived in Truwa, it was said that the food supply was insufficient. At this time, Joan of Arc met a monk named "Brother Richard". Brother Richard had long preached the warning of the end of the world in Truwa, and local farmers changed to grow beans - crops that could ripen early. When the army arrived, the beans were just ripe, so the food problem was solved. [7] This legend was quoted by the historian Edward Lucie-Smith, who argued that Joan of Arc played the role of sanctification rather than some practical abilities.
Lance opened the door on July 16, and the coronation ceremony was held immediately the next morning. Crown Prince Charles was officially crowned as Charles VII.

Pierre Miguel, a French historian, commented on the coronation of Charles VII in his History of France: "This is a decisive political action: since then, the French people in the north have known that they have a king again... The faith of Joan of Arc has infected the whole nation... Since then, the restoration of the country is not only the responsibility of the vassals fighting for the fief, but also the obligation of the whole country. The envoy sent by God has united the country in a mysterious feeling." [34]
Although Joan of Arc and Aronson strongly advocated attacking Paris, Charlie preferred to negotiate with Burgundy to reach a truce. Duke Philip of Burgundy then used negotiations as a strategic means to slow down the war and secretly reinforce the defense of Paris while negotiating. The French army continued to march towards Paris, and on the way, more cities and towns surrendered peacefully. The British army led by the Duke of Bedford in England and the French army met on August 15, and the two sides drew. The French army then attacked Paris on September 8. Although Joan of Arc was wounded in the leg by a crossbow in the battle, she continued to command the army until the end of the day's battle. The next morning, she received an order from the royal family to order the French army to withdraw. Many historians attributed the withdrawal to the political blunder of the French minister, Georges de la Tr é moille. [7]
Captured and tried
Joan of Arc spent the November and December of 1429 in La-Charit é - sur-Loire, where there was no fighting. In December, Joan of Arc received the noble status granted by Charles VII and the title of "Saint-Pierre-le-Montie". [34]
A painting depicting the capture of Joan of Arc
A painting depicting the capture of Joan of Arc [29]
In March 1430, Joan of Arc went to Lagny-sur-Marne, and on May 13 went to Gongbine to resist the attack of the English and Burgundians. In a small battle on May 23, when Joan of Arc ordered the army to withdraw back to the city of Gongbine, she was at the end of the army to ensure that everyone had returned to the city. But at that time, Gongbine was afraid of the British invasion and closed the gate before all the troops withdrew. Joan of Arc and the remaining guard troops were captured by the Burgundians. [7] [29]
At that time, the convention about prisoners was that as long as their families could pay a ransom, they could redeem them, but this time the Burgundians did not want to do so. Many historians accused Charles VII of not trying to rescue. She tried to escape several times, and once even jumped from a 70-foot tower and fell on the soft mud ground of the dry moat without serious injury. After some negotiations, Duke Philip handed Joan of Arc to England. Pierre Cauchon, a bishop in Beauvais, northern France, played a key role in these negotiations and later trials. He was a strong supporter of England and believed that he had the responsibility to ensure that Joan of Arc would be punished. [7]
The trial of accusing Joan of heresy is for political purposes. Duke Bedford claimed that the throne of the French king should belong to his nephew Henry VI of England, and she destroyed all this. The trial procedure was launched in Rouen on January 9, 1431, and was led by the English occupation government. The trial procedure appeared disorderly in many aspects. [7]
To sum up some major issues, Bishop Pierre Kochon, who served as a judge, had jurisdiction only on the basis of a legal assumption. He got the post because of his pro-English position. The English government funded the cost of the whole trial. Nicolas Bailly, a clergyman notary, was also only appointed to collect testimony against Joan of Arc, but did not provide any negative evidence. Therefore, the whole trial lacks a fundamental fair basis, and Joan of Arc will be convicted in any case. [7]
On April 2, the court carefully considered Joan's reply to 70 counts, and then compressed it to 12. On April 5, the indictment was submitted to the judges, who had to submit written comments before the 10th. But only a few people finished on time. On April 13, 12 written documents of allegations were sent to the University of Paris for evaluation. On April 18, Joan of Arc was admonished in prison. On the 19th, the guards showed Joan the instrument of torture, but she didn't give in. She said they could dismember her, but she wouldn't change her view. [26]
Joan of Arc being interrogated
Joan of Arc being interrogated
More than a month later, Joan of Arc heard those counts approved by the university after careful consideration; Before being sentenced, she accepted "generous and tolerant admonition". Five days later, she went out for the first time in several months and was taken to Shengwang Cemetery, where she was formally and publicly expelled from the church. Her hair was shaved off and she wore a woman's dress, which was the dress of a penitent woman. This is the first time that she appeared in public wearing women's clothing after she devoted herself to her career. [26]
The trial record proves that Joan of Arc has intelligence. The most famous question in the record is: "Do you feel that you have received God's grace?" Joan of Arc replied: "If you don't get it, I hope God can give me; if I have got it, I hope God can still give me." [7] This question is a trap. At that time, the church's dogma was that no one could be sure that he was blessed by God. If she gave a positive answer, she would prove that she was heretical. If her answer is negative, she will admit that she is guilty. The notary Boisguillaume later confirmed that after hearing Joan's reply, "those who questioned her were all dumbfounded" and had to suspend the interrogation that day. This question was later very famous and became the subject of many fields in modern times. [22]
Joan of Arc did not resent Charlie VII for not rescuing her. During one day's trial, the priest opened his mouth to read the scripture "The Tree of Fruits". This sermon attacked Charles VII, so Joan of Arc shouted: "Don't talk about the king, he is a pious Christian, talk about me." [26]
Several court officials later confirmed that a large part of the manuscripts had been changed (to the detriment of Joan of Arc). Many clergy were forced to participate, including the interrogator Jean Le Maitre, and others were even threatened with death from the English. According to the rules of the trial, Joan of Arc should be imprisoned in a church prison guarded by nuns, but the English people imprisoned Joan of Arc in a prison usually guarded by soldiers. Bishop Kochong also rejected Joan's request for the Pope to appear, because it would obviously stop his trial. On May 30, Joan of Arc changed back into men's clothes. The priest records that this was to avoid being raped, because it was extremely difficult to take off the men's clothes. [7]
The court summarized 12 criminal charges against Joan of Arc, but these charges contradict the records in the trial. Under the pressure of various ways, the illiterate Joan of Arc signed a public renunciation that she could not understand under the threat of immediate execution, but the court left a different document on the official record.

Martyrdom
Joan of Arc at the stake
Joan of Arc on the stake (3)
When Joan of Arc signed the letter of renunciation, the letter of renunciation also stated that she agreed to wear women's clothes (since leaving her hometown, Joan of Arc has always worn men's clothes). A few days later, according to witnesses, Joan of Arc was tried to rape by an English nobleman in prison. She started wearing men's clothes again, if not to prevent harassment, or as Jean Massieu testified, because her skirt was stolen and there was no clothes to cover her. But at this time, Joan of Arc began to face her death calmly, perhaps with some joy. That may be because she fully believes that death is better than betraying herself and what the voice says. [26]
On May 30, 1431, Joan of Arc walked to the old market square in Rouen in shackles, where the death penalty would be carried out. The British government is responsible for the execution of the death penalty, although her sentence was made by a religious judge. She has been surrounded by all kinds of worshipping crowds since she left Vokulaer, but now there is a large group of mocking mobs around the roadside, clamoring to kill her. She was silently taken up the steps and tied to the stake. [26] [7]
Witnesses described the dying scene of Joan of Arc: Joan of Arc kept praying and asked to hang a cross in front of her. A British soldier put two sticks together and handed them to her. Her loyal confessor, Father Martin Levine, rushed back to the church, brought a gold cross and put it in front of Joan. Finally, the flame lit up, and she soon disappeared into the flame. After a few minutes, everything was over. The executioner reported: "At the beginning of the fire, she called Jesus more than six times, especially when she took the last breath, she called Jesus with a firm voice. Almost everyone on the scene shed tears of sympathy." The executioner was ordered to keep the flame away from her, in order to make her die as hard as possible. The Englishman poked away the charred charcoal and exposed the charred body to prove to the crowd that she was indeed dead, and then burned the body again to prevent anyone from trying to collect her ashes. [7] [26]
The English threw the remaining ashes into the Seine. Geoffroy Therage, the executioner in charge of lighting the fire, later described him as "very afraid of burning a virgin and being sent to hell". [7]
Posthumous rehabilitation
The place where Joan of Arc was executed
The place where Joan of Arc was executed
Eighteen years after Joan's death, on December 10, 1449, Charles VII entered Rouen. In 1450, Charles VII ordered his consultant and former president of the University of Paris, Guillaume Boyle, to investigate the case of Joan of Arc. After investigation, it was found that the trial was full of various prejudices, and it could almost be determined that the trial was invalid. However, the king has no right to veto the formal trial result, and only the Inquisition can make it clear to her. [26]
Subsequently, at the request of Joan of Arc's elderly mother Isabella Duck and Jean Brehal, the chief judge of the French Inquisition, Pope Garrison III authorized the Holy See to reopen the trial. The trial began with the retrial of the case by the pastor Guillaume Bouille, and the investigation was conducted under the leadership of Brehal in 1452. The formal ruling was conducted in November 1455. [7] [26]
Many clergy from all over Europe participated in the trial, and the trial process also followed the standard court regulations. A team of theologians also analyzed the testimony of 115 witnesses. Finally, Brehal put forward a conclusion in June 1456, describing Joan of Arc as a virgin who sacrificed for justice, and pointed out that Pierre Koxiong, who had led the trial, wrongly convicted Joan of Arc for his own practical interests. [7]
The court officially declared Joan's innocence on July 7, 1456. [7] In the same month, the files of Joan of Arc's initial trial - the documents of conviction and judgment - were officially opened and burned in Rouen, in the "Old Market Square", where Joan of Arc was executed.