The Sad History of Joan of Arc

By Kryshia Gayle Solon
HAPI Scholar

The story of Joan of Arc has been told time and time again throughout history. Joan is known as a woman who led the French army to victory against the English and saved France from being conquered. But how much of this story is true?

There are many myths and legends surrounding the life of Joan of Arc; this article will explore the real tale. When Joan was born on May 6th, 1412, she was the daughter of a peasant farmer named Jacques d’Arc and his wife Isabelle Romée. Joan was the eldest of three children and was referred to as ‘Jeanne’ by her family. Her parents did not own a house and were forced to sleep in a loft above their stables, where the animals were kept. While growing up, Joan was known for her intelligence, and she often would help her father with his work on the farm. She was later sent away to a convent where she learned to read and write and became a nun at the age of 13. It was around this time that Joan began hearing voices from God telling her to go to the aid of the French army and help them in their fight against England. She was dressed in men’s clothing to disguise herself and made her way to Vaucouleurs to join the army and help free France from English control. When the soldiers of France saw Joan riding on horseback through their ranks, they thought she was a man and quickly accepted her into their group. Once it was safe for her to do so, Joan revealed her true identity to the commander, who immediately appointed her as his advisor and began treating her like one of the soldiers. 

Over the next few years, Joan led several successful military campaigns against the English and helped lead the French army to victory in several battles. She was also able to secure the release of several important French prisoners who had been captured by the English army during previous battles and was able to convince the English that she was not a man and had God’s powers at her disposal. After several years of military service, Joan was eventually captured during a battle and taken prisoner by the English. She remained in captivity for the next six years until her trial for heresy finally took place. Before the trial could begin, however, Joan made a desperate attempt to escape prison and eventually managed to break through the walls of the prison, swim across a nearby river, and hide in the forest until the English could no longer find her. After spending the next several months hiding in the woods and living off of scraps from the forest floor, Joan eventually decided she had no choice but to return to the town and face her trial. Although she was a popular figure among the people of the town, many of them were afraid or unwilling to help her because of her reputation as a heretic and they threatened to burn her at the stake if she did not confess to her crimes and accept the punishment that had been set for her.

It [became] increasingly clear that her actions were not motivated by a desire to serve God but rather a desire to do what was right in the eyes of the law regardless of her personal beliefs.

Why was she seen as a heretic? It was because she tried to revive the Catholic church in her time through her visions from God. She punished the wrongdoers and risked her life to save innocent people – actions that made her a heroic icon in France. However, the English did not like this as she was “talking” to a god other than theirs; thus, they tortured and tormented her to death. Joan of Arc died wrongly accused. Her bravery became her legacy.

Her conviction was eventually overturned. Nevertheless, keen observers believed for many years that Joan had been wrongfully convicted. They were convinced that she had been a victim of religious prejudice and that her contribution to the success of the French army had been grossly undervalued by the authorities in Rouen. However, it has become increasingly clear that her actions were not motivated by a desire to serve God but rather a desire to do what was right in the eyes of the law regardless of her personal beliefs. Despite being a devout catholic who was devoted not only to Christianity but also to the teachings of the church, she made it clear that she did not subscribe to the belief that Jesus was the only way to salvation and that she had no intention of renouncing her vows as a nun to marry the King and become a political leader.

This harsh event goes to show just how grave the effects of religious persecution can be and how it can affect an individual’s life. Religious conflicts are nothing new in the world and are something that can be detrimental to society and the people within it which is why it is encouraged that individuals should be aware of the religious conflicts that are going on around them and take measures to prevent them from escalating into violence. A change of belief or behavior might be necessary to fit in with what society thinks is “normal”, but it is rarely possible to maintain such a change indefinitely without encountering a great deal of resistance. In the end, a person must decide whether it is more important to be true to themselves or to conform to the expectations of others. Most people would agree that it is important for people to have the freedom to believe whatever they like and to express those beliefs without fear of persecution but there is also a strong case to be made for the need for a degree of tolerance and understanding between different groups in society. We would all be better off if we could learn to accept and even appreciate the differences that exist between different people rather than spending our time and energy trying to convince them to believe as we do.

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References

The Story of Joan Of Arc, by Andrew Lang. (n.d.). https://www.gutenberg.org/files/48470/48470-h/48470-h.htm

History.com Editors. (2022, May 25). Joan of Arc is burned at the stake for heresy. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/joan-of-arc-martyred

Vale, M. G. A. (2022, August 20). Joan of Arc | Biography, Death, Accomplishments, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Joan-of-Arc

Smith, A. D. (2017, December 2). Solved at last: the burning mystery of Joan of Arc. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/dec/17/france.alexduvalsmith