The Life and Times of French Saint and Heroine Joan of Arc
The Life and Times of French Saint and Heroine Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc, or Jeanne D’Arc was a French saint and national heroine known as the Maid of Orleans. She was born the third of five children in Domreemy-la-Pucelle, an ancient villenie of Vaucouleurs, on the Meuse River, in Eastern France on January 6, 1412. Joan’s parents were rich as far as wealth of a Domremy citizen was measured. At the time of Joan’s birth, the Hundred Years War was in its last quarter and it was hard times for patriotism in France. Her heart was filled with laughter and gaiety, dutiful obedience to her parents and the church, but her heart also held pain of misfortune and war.
Joan began to have visions at a young age, most notably those of Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret. When Joan was sixteen, the state of France had gone from bad to worse. Joan’s familiar saints, the “Brothers of Paradise” as she called them, began to visit her frequently until the day the Voice of God told her “You Must Go, You Must Go.” Those were the words that would forever change her life. It was at this time Joan had found it was time to fulfill her destiny. The voice of God and her saints advised her to give aid to a dauphin, later known as King Charles the VII, who was kept from the throne by the English during the Hundred Years War.
Joan began her destiny by aiding Robert de Baudricourt, who was the captain of the dauphin’s forces in Vaucouleurs. Joan met the dauphin at the Castle of Chinon and subjugated his cynicism about her divine mission.
In the first weeks of May 1429, she led a series of successful assaults against the English bastions and so defeated and demoralized them that they raised the siege and departed on May 8. The news of the liberation of Orleans spread quickly across France and injected a new spirit of hope and resolution into the oppressed population. This lead the way for Charles to be crowned king. The dauphin was crowned at Rheims on July 17 with Joan at his side during his coronation. This was the highlight of Joan’s life.
In 1430 she was captured by the Burgundians...