My Hero: Joan of Arc By: Anna Raymond

Background Joan was the daughter of Jacques d’Arc and Isabelle Romee and lived in Domremy, a village part of the Duchy bar. She was born around The area were she was born was often the scene of fighting during the Hundred Years’ War between the French and English. Several local raids occurred during her childhood and on one occasion her village was burned. Joan attended mass regularly. By the age of 13 she was having religious visions and was hearing what she believed to be the voices of saints. The village church She kept these experiences to herself. When St. Catherine and St. Margaret told her that God had chosen her to help Charles VII to drive the English out of France, she told her parents about the visions.

Early Ventures Already at 16, she asked a kinsman to bring her to nearby Vancoueleurs where she petitioned the garrison commander, Count Robert de Bandricourt, for permission to visit the royal French court at Chinon. This was uncommon for women at the time. When she arrived, Baudricourt's sarcastic response did not discourage her. She returned next January and gained approval from two men of standing. Under their support she gained a second interview. Later Joan was able to make a remarkable prediciction about a military reversal in Orleans. Ruin of great hall at Chinon where she met King Charles VII

Added Into The Army After her prediction, she continued on a journey through hostile territory disguised as a man. When she arrived she impressed Charles VII in a private conference. She then petitioned the right to travel with the army and wear the equipment of a knight. Joan was the only source of hope for a regime near collapse.

Leadership Joan defied the France’s cautious strategy for an aggressive one. On May 4th the French attacked and captured the fortress of Saint Lou. Next Joan, marched on May 5th to a second fortress called Saint Jean le Blanc. Finding it deserted made it a bloodless victory. To continue her march she went against the war council, and with the aid of only one captain, she captured the fortress of St. Augustins.

Leadership (continued) Joan continued to the lead the French, and captured the English stronghold. She was granted command of the army. The army recovered Jargeau on June 12th, Meung-sur-Loire on June 15th, then Beaugency on June 17th. Joan suffered injuries such as an arrow to the neck, blow from a stone cannonball to her helmet, and a crossbow bolt wound to the leg. Due to Joan’s strategy, the French humiliated the English at the Battle of Patay and suffered only a minimal loss. Joan continued to have successful battles at Auxerre and Troyes. Joan successfully took Saint-Pierre-le-Mountier, and received a noble status.

Capture A reckless skirmish on May 23 rd, 1430 led to her being captured. Joan ordered a retreat, and assumed a place of honor, the last person to leave the field. A family could ransom for a prisoner of war, but Joan’s family lacked the finances. King Charles VII failed to intervene. She had several escape attempts, but failed.

Trial Joan came to trial under Bishop Pierre Cauchon for suspected heresy and witchcraft. Cauchon who had tried to find her guilty of inventing the voices eventually found her guilty of heresy. Joan signed an abjuration admitting that her previous statements had been lies. Joan signed the abjuration because she didn’t understand it, and she had a fear of immediate execution. She was then sentenced to burn at the stake. Tower in Rouen where she stayed during the trial.

Execution Joan was burned at the stake on May 30 th She was tied to a tall pillar in the Vieux-Marche in Rouen. She asked to clergymen to hold a crucifix before her. Afterward, they checked for her body to make sure she hadn’t escaped alive.

Retrial After the war Joan’s mother and father asked for a retrial. The goal was to see if the trial had been handed out justly, according to law. Over 115 testimonies were looked at. The final conclusion stated Joan was a martyr and convicted Cauchon for heresy for convicting an innocent women. The court declared her innocence on July 7 th 1456.

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