Joan of Arc, The Maid of Orléans

Joan of Arc ca. 1450-1500. Oil paint. National Archives, France {{PD-US}}

There has always been a marked trending to idealize the life of some personages. It often makes of them, true historic legends. For this reason, it becomes a difficult task, to analize their existence and deeds. Reality tends to confuse with fantasy! If we add to all this, a strong magical-religious component and how far away in time they are... any investigation about them, will always have the risk of a lack in objectivity and hence can lead to the wrong conclusions. There is no doubt, this is a major challenge to study the events and characters of the past.

To find a well documented ancient historic process, is a real treasure. But its antiquity may become a limiting factor for the complete interpretation of these sources. Such is the case of the fascinating and at the same time enigmatic life of Joan of Arc... also known as The Maid of France.

Bithplace of Joan of Arc. Photo: Arnaud25, 2016. Lic. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

Her life has been profusely told. She came into the world at Domrémy, a village in Lorraine, a region of Northeastern France. Is accepted that she was born around the year 1412, although her birth register has never appeared. She came from a humble family. Her education was limited to the domestic and field chores, and some religion. According to her own statements, she began to hear misterious voices, while she was only a child. Those voices urged her to accomplish a mission... nothing less than saving the country from falling under the rule of England. Those were the days of a conflict known as The Hundred Years War. But, how would a peasant girl aspire to succeed where so many well experienced soldiers had failed?

Joan of Arc hearing the voice of St. Michael the Archangel, by Eugéne Romain Thirion
1876. Ville de Chatou, Église, Notre Dame.

The celestial voices kept insisting, till they finally convinced Jane. She believed that had been chosen to guide the French army to the victory. A meeting with the future king became urgent, to talk about her divine mission. He had to understand that she was sent not only to free the country, but also to crown him. France would be an united land.

The Maid in Charles the 7th´s crowning, by Ingres, 1854. Museum of Louvre, Paris, France.
Source: cartelfr.louvre.fr {{PD-US}}

A sixteen years old maid, wearing men´s clothes, managed to convince the Dauphin of France. Leading a demoralized army, she inspired the cohesion and confidence they needed. And then came the unlikely victory they yearned for. Her mere presence and mistery aura she had, made the miracle. Those almost unique events, were registered in writing. Otherwise, they might be considered as false, nowadays. She was ahead or took an active part, in several decisive military actions. It all finally turned around the calamitous situation her country was passing through. 

Joan of Arc at the Siege of Orléans, by Jules Eugéne Lenepveu ca.1890. Panthéon of Paris

The turning point of a number of victories, ocurred at Orléans. They quickly defeated the English forces that besieged the city for months. Next, they went to the North, to recover Reims. It had an enormous simbolic meaning. There, at the cathedral, should be crowned the Dauphin Charles, as the legitimate king. Since then, France would begin to glimpse its unity and could find its own identity. The commended mission, first visualized by the young maiden, had been completely fulfilled. 

Church of Our Lady, Reims, France. Photo: KoS, 2005.

But soon everything changed for Joan. She received ingratitude and betrayal in payment for her services. This would mark the rest of her short existence. One day, in the middle of the confusion of a combat, she was victim of treason. The Burgundian forces (French, but allies of the British), captured her at Compiègne, to the North of Paris. That way, she fell into the hands of an enemy absolutely eager to revenge for their humiliating defeat. Since that moment, Joan was left alone by those who owed her everything. They chose to watch impassive, how the heroine was humiliated and condemned...  without lifting a finger!

Joan of Arc interrogated by the Cardinal of Winchester, by Paul Delaroche, 1824.
Museum of Fine Arts, Rouen, France. Photo: Fehler.

The infamous bishop Cauchon, presided a long and tortuous trial, that sentenced her for heressy and many other things. Joan of Arc ended her days, burnt at the stake, kissing a crucifix. It happened at the old Market Square of Rouen, on May 30th, 1431. Her ashes were thrown to the Seine River. Years too late, and cinical, Charles VII himself, opened a review process of her case. It was clear that The Maid had been unjustly condemned. The trial was only a stack of legal and ecclesiastic cruelties and abuses. Her innocence became obvious, and her memory was then restored. But the exaltation of the great woman did not stop there... by virtue of her exemplary life and martyrdom, the Pope declared her a saint, in the year 1920. 

The Maid´s Death. By Jules Eugéne Lenepveu, ca. 1890. Panthéon of Paris.

That young girl is quite rightly considered as a glory and a simbol of France. Also she is a saint, according to the catholic beliefs. But she is pure and simply, a great history enigma. There are so many speculations about her, that almost everything in her life is hidden by the mist of doubt. Even the legal documents of her trial, are not considered to be a hundred percent reliable. In our opinion, there are only two things, out of question... One is her own existence. The other, is that she became a soldier. She took part in battles that were crucial for France, to change the direction of the events, during the Hundred Years War. 

Joan of Arc recognizes the Dauphin. Tapestry at the Chateau of Chinon. Joan of Arc Centre, Orléans.
 Photo: LonganimE, 2005.

Now, let´s stop for a while. How could it be, that a simple peasant girl stood before the future king, offering to emerge victorious in an almost lost war? To achieve it, she only counted on a demotivated army. Such was the scenary Joan had in front, all because some misterious voices from heaven had insistently asked her to. But, how did she manage to convince the incipient king? Which were her arguments? According to history, she had to undergo several proofs. There is an anecdote, in which the Dauphin tried to confuse her. He mingled into the crowd, wearing the same clothes as any other person. Without hesitation, Joan walked directly to him, although she had never seen him before... and talked about her mission. Was it help from heaven? Later, she assured that it had been. Is quite sure that she made a positive impression, since he approved her request to take part in the prolongued war. 

As we said earlier, most of the events of Joan´s life, has never been fully explained. Not even her true name, nor the date of birth. She used to call herself as The Maid (La Pucelle), and never insinuated that she knew her age. Besides, many speculation has always been about her origin: was she just a poor peasant or was of royal blood? Had any preparation in the military routines? But, the silly opinion of one of the prelates who judged Joan, seems to shed light on this matter. According to him, was imposible that she had been chosen by God, due to her humble origin...

A sculpture of The Maid, at Guardian Angel´s Chapel, Bayone, France.
Photo: Georges Jansoone, 2006.

The most controversial aspect of the life of this heroine, certainly is about the "voices" she heard, or said to hear. This is something that has found several interpretations. Some are convinced that were supernatural events, true miracles. Others support the hypothesis that she might have suffered from hallucinations. Some modern researchers think that those visions were only a product of her mind. According to them, it is possible to give a medical explanation to the voices theme: were hysteria cases, mystic ecstasy or epilepsy... Along the trial, she never showed a tendency to give many explanations. But always stated that she attributed those voices to the angels and saints. Only once, she retracted her words, when she was physically and mentally weakened. Despite all the abuses, she soon got back on track with her original testimony. Maybe it hastened the condemning verdict, that was already pending on her.

Among many theories, one sustains that both the voices and the divine inspiration, could have been a fake... It was the only way she found to be taken into account for such a male activity, as war is. Also, if she wore men´s clothes and possibly showed lack of femininity, is not surprising. Was the best option, if she had to deal with rude and undisciplined soldiers. Even more, some opine that her physical appearance should have been quite different from the delicate image shown by her iconography. According to them, Joan probably was a strong and robust girl instead. After all, there never was a portrait or description from her, so the truth will remain hidden forever!

The capture of Joan of Arc, by Jules Eugéne Lenepveu, ca. 1890. Mural fresco painting, Panthéon, Paris, France.

Regarding to her skills as a warrior, and performance at the battlefield, it has been impossible to reach an agreement. Some sustain that she was only assigned to carry the flags or banners and to rally the soldiers. In their opinion, she never stained her sword with blood, nor participated on the decision meetings. This could match with the tender heroine image she had, when was declared a saint, some centuries later. But at the same time, others see her as a fine strategist, able to take important decisions. Also, that she marched in front, fighting and encouraging the troops. This, earned her many respect and admiration. One thing is sure, her intervention caused the war to turnaround, lifting France, it is a historical fact!

The place where Joan of Arc died, Rouen, France. Photo: Jean-Noël Lafargue,
2006.

Her own death and the location of her remains, also has been eventually questioned. Until today, exist persons who believe that she did not perish burnt at Rouen, in 1431. As it often happens with the famous figures, after the death of Joan, began to hatch such tales. Some said that she was still alive... From time to time appeared persons who affirmed to be The Maid, years after her suplice. Believe it or not, in one of those cases, her brothers confirmed her identity! But everything seems to indicate that only were imposture cases. They were persons trying to obtain prebends or economic benefits, using the image of the heroine.

It was always taken for certain that her ashes and remains ended up into the Seine... her executioners tried to hamper the beggining of a cult around Joan. But the idea of someone who kept some relics, has persisted through time. Even was told that her heart never was burnt. Yet, to the present, all this has been cientifically refuted.

Joan of Arc, by Étiene Leroux, ca. 1880. France. Photo: Vassil, 2007.

She just faded into the air, subtle and delicate, as a burnt flower. But her work and spirit persisted, growing as time passed. A great nation was her legacy, to a large extent. France carries the name of Joan of Arc, written with brilliant letters, inside the heart. That is the place where La Pucelle will breathe and bloom forever...