Joan of Arc: The Maid of Orléans

The day Joan of Arc led France to into war with England, she not only claimed victory for France but also for women in the centuries to come.

Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc's story begins humbly. Under the name Jeanne d'Arc, Joan was born January 6, 1412 in Domrémy-la-Pucelle, France. Her father was a tenat farmer named Jacques d'Arc and his wife, her mother, was Isabelle Romée.

Joan began to hear voices at the age of 13. She determined these voices and their messages were heavenly sent. Joan claimed that God had given her a mission of overwhelming importance: to save France by expelling its enemies, and insuring Charles was crowned king.

Motivated by her belief that she had been chosen by God, Joan led France to victory in its war with England. With zero military training or experience, Joan manged to convince Prince Charles of Valois to let her lead the French army to the city of Orléans. It was here, The Maid of Orléans won victory over the English and their French allies, the Burgundians. After seeing the prince crowned King Charles VII, fulfilling her mission, Joan was captured by Anglo-Burgundian forces. The 19 year old woman was tried for witchcraft and heresy and burned at the stake May 30, 1431.

Joan of Arc

Joan's short life was heavily influenced and almost dictated, by her belief system and cultural values.
By the time she was officially canonized in 1920, the Maid of Orléans had long been celebrated. She's considered one of history’s greatest saints, and an enduring symbol of French unity and nationalism.

Driven by her religious upbringing, Joan considered her faith to be a huge part of her sense of self. She modeled her life in a way that was pious and respectful to her christian beliefs. She made a vow of chastity at 16 years of age and held firm in this promise even when wavered by her father. Jacques d'Arc attempted to arrange a marriage for his young daughter but failed when she convinced the local courts to rule in her favor. Despite your own personal religious affiliations, we can all draw inspiration from this courageous act. In Medieval Times, where young women were seen as their father's or husband's property, its amazing that at 16 years old Joan was able to sway the opinion of not only one man but a whole court of them.

Joan of Arc

In more than one occasion, Joan approaches patriarchal figures head-on. As she begins her mission, Joan strategically manages to convince local magistrate, Robert de Baudricourt, to give her a seat in front of the prince. After he relented, Joan cropped her hair and dressed in men’s clothes to make the 11 day journey across enemy territory to the crown prince's palace in Chinon. She was tactful and used logic when approaching the opposite sex. Her mindfulness of the misogynistic and sexist culture of that time, allowed her to move seamlessly among men. The way Joan felt pressured to dress and act speaks volumes for the tragic narrative women always seem to fall victim to. That they're weak and easy targets for sexual or physical violence. Joan of Arc takes this narrative and twists it.

Against the advice of most of his counselors and generals, Prince Charles granted Joan permission to carry through with her mission. The Maid of Orléans set off for Orléans in March of 1429 dressed in white armor and riding a white horse. An immaculate visual image of purity, faith and hope in the middle of a battle that had raged for decades. Joan represented a beacon of light, she was a hero. She twisted the narrative of women to one that was empowering and uplifting.

Joan of Arc was 17 years old when she won the Hundred Years War for France. Her heroism acts as an inspirational, feminist symbol for women of all ages. Brought up from humble beginnings, inspired by a cause, burned at the stake and then sainted, Joan's experience is unique and her bravery, unparalleled. Her story, over 600 years old, remains relevant and her image, iconic. I anticipate her story to be shared for more generations to come.

Works Cited

History.com Editors. “Joan of Arc.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Nov. 2009, https://www.history.com/news/joan-arc-burned-stake

Kennedy, Lesley. “Why Was Joan of Arc Burned at the Stake?” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 16 Apr. 2019, https://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages/saint-joan-of-arc

Vale, Malcolm G.A., and Yvonne Lanhers. “St. Joan of Arc.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 28 Aug. 2019, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Joan-of-Arc#ref27051