Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc

Introduction

Joan Of Arc, The Maid Of France Saint Joan of Arc was born in Domremy in Lorraine, France, in 1412. At the age of thirteen, she began to hear celestial voices; she became convinced that the voices belonged to Saint Michael, Saint Catherine of Alexandria, and Saint Margaret. These voices began to tell Joan about what she must soon carry out. During the Hundred Years War, the heavenly voices soon exhorted Joan to help Charles, who later became King Charles VII of France.

Until the age of seventeen years, she lived the life of a simple shepherdess. (Albert, 2005) At this time, she was commanded by Heavenly Voices to lead the French armies against the English forces which had invaded France. She did so with great success.

Main Body

At only 17 years of age, she was given troops to command, and was sent to Orleans, where she directed her army to a successful victory over the English. Joan s next mission was to conduct a military operation against the English in 1430, in Compiegne. While there, Burundian soldiers captured her, and held her for ransom to France. (Pernoud, 2004) When King Charles VII refused to pay the price to free her, the Burundian soldiers sold Joan to the English. While in England, a court sentenced Joan to life in prison, for wearing masculine clothes, and for being responsible directly to God, instead of the Roman Catholic Church.

Domremy was a small village in the Meuse Valley. Jacques d'Arc, Jeanne's father and mother, Isabelle Zabillet, were described by their neighbors, " They were good and faithful Catholics; good working-people of good reputation, leading an honest life according to their condition." (Pernoud, 2004) No contemporary picture exists of Jeanne d'Arc. The Princess of Hungary, Eugelide, led us to believe that 'Joan had a short neck and a little bright red mark behind her right ear.' Jeanne begins to be mentioned in history, as a young girl of 12 13 years old.

Jeanne was born into a family of healthy parents, she did her housework, worked in the fields, tended the cattle and took part as a member of a country family. With these tasks, one might expect Jeanne to have rough hands, dark skin from spending so much time in the sun, and strong muscles. The people of Domremy testified that Jeanne 'had moral character and a sweet nature.' (DeVries, 2008)Consistent accounts are given that Jeanne's hair was short and black, that she had brown eyes and her complexion was dark and sun-burnt.

As Jeanne arrived in Chinon, Philip of Bergamo said, She was short as to her stature.' As early as thirteen years of age, Jeanne heard voices from St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret." (Pernoud, 2004)

These voices frightened Jeanne, at first but later she referred to these voices as Angels. Joan was commanded to attend church, to go to France and to raise the siege in the city of Orleans. Without word to her parents, Joan ...