Joan of Arc: The poor peasant girl who heard God and became medieval military genius

Joan of Arc was born in 1412 to Jacques d'Arc and Isabelle Romée in Domrémy, a small village in northeastern France.

Her family were peasants, and she was raised alongside her brothers and sisters in a devoutly Catholic household.

Joan's early life was marked by the challenges of living in a region frequently caught in the crossfire between warring factions during the Hundred Years' War.

Despite these hardships, Joan was known for her piety and religious fervor.

Around the age of 13, Joan began to experience visions and hear voices that she believed were sent by God.

These visions often featured saints such as St. Michael the Archangel, St. Catherine of Alexandria, and St. Margaret of Antioch.

The saints' messages were clear: Joan was chosen by God to lead France to victory against the English and to ensure that Charles VII, the uncrowned Dauphin of France, would be crowned king.

Joan's divine visions and voices continued over the years, becoming more frequent and insistent.

Initially, she confided in only a few close family members and friends about her experiences.

However, as the situation in France became increasingly dire, Joan felt compelled to act on the guidance she received.

The voices urged her to seek an audience with Charles VII and reveal her divine mission.

In early 1429, Joan of Arc, at the age of 17, embarked on her journey to meet Charles VII, the uncrowned Dauphin of France, at his court in Chinon.

This trip was a crucial step in her pursuit to fulfill the divine mission she believed she had been given by the saints.

The journey from her village of Domrémy to Chinon was fraught with danger and challenges, as it spanned around 300 miles and required her to travel through hostile territory controlled by the English and their Burgundian allies.

To begin her journey, Joan sought the help of a local nobleman, Robert de Baudricourt, who was the captain of the nearby town of Vaucouleurs.

Initially, Baudricourt was skeptical of Joan's claims, dismissing her as a mere peasant girl with delusions of grandeur.

However, Joan's persistence and the growing support of the townspeople convinced him to provide her with an escort of soldiers for the perilous journey.

Disguised as a male soldier to avoid attracting attention and for her own safety, Joan set out with her small escort.

The journey took approximately 11 days, during which she faced numerous hardships, including the harsh winter weather, the constant threat of enemy patrols, and the skepticism of the very men assigned to protect her.

Despite the many obstacles, Joan eventually arrived in Chinon and was granted an audience with Charles VII.

The Dauphin, intrigued by her claims, tested her by disguising himself among his courtiers.

Joan, however, identified him correctly, and according to some accounts, revealed a secret prayer he had made to God, which convinced him of her authenticity.

Charles VII subsequently allowed Joan to join the French army, setting the stage for her pivotal role in turning the tide of the Hundred Years' War.

Joan's first major military test came during the Siege of Orléans, which had been under English control since 1428.

The English, along with their Burgundian allies, had been steadily advancing through France, capturing numerous cities and fortifications.

Orléans, a strategically important city located along the Loire River, became a primary target for the English forces led by the Earl of Salisbury.

The French defenders, commanded by Jean Dunois, were determined to hold the city but found themselves increasingly encircled and under pressure from the besieging English troops.

Joan of Arc arrived in Orléans in late April 1429 after convincing Charles VII to provide her with an opportunity to prove her divine mission.

She was accompanied by a relief force and a convoy of supplies for the besieged city.

Her presence quickly galvanized the morale of the French troops and civilians, who saw her as a symbol of hope and divine intervention.

Under Joan's leadership and inspiration, the French forces launched a series of successful attacks against the English-held fortifications around Orléans.

She often led from the front lines, carrying her banner and rallying the troops with her presence.

Joan's involvement proved to be a game-changer, as the French began to gain the upper hand in the siege.

On May 8, 1429, after just over a week of Joan's arrival, the English lifted the siege and retreated.

The French had successfully broken the English stranglehold on Orléans, and the event marked the first significant victory for the French in many years.

Joan's central role in the campaign boosted her reputation and reinforced the belief in her divine mission.

After the successful lifting of the Siege of Orléans and a series of victories against the English and their Burgundian allies, Joan of Arc urged Charles VII to travel to Reims for his coronation.

She believed that this event would legitimize his rule and strengthen his position as the rightful monarch of France.

At the time, Charles was still known as the Dauphin, the title given to the heir apparent, as he had not yet been officially crowned king.

To reach Reims, the French army, with Joan at its side, had to undertake a risky journey through enemy-held territory.

Along the way, they captured several towns and cities, including Jargeau, Meung-sur-Loire, Beaugency, and Troyes, effectively clearing a path to Reims.

This campaign, known as the Loire Campaign, was crucial in allowing Charles VII to reach the city safely.

Upon their arrival in Reims, preparations for the coronation ceremony began. The ceremony took place on July 17, 1429, at the Cathedral of Reims.

Charles VII was anointed with holy oil, believed to have been brought from heaven by a dove for the baptism of Clovis, the first Christian king of the Franks.

Charles was then crowned King of France, with Joan standing proudly by his side, holding her banner.

This moment fulfilled an essential part of her divine mission, as she had been instructed by her voices to ensure the Dauphin's coronation.

The coronation of Charles VII solidified his claim to the French throne and bolstered the morale of his supporters.

It marked the beginning of a resurgence in French fortunes during the Hundred Years' War.

For Joan, the event served as a validation of her divine mission and further cemented her status as a heroine in the eyes of the French people.

Following the coronation of Charles VII, Joan of Arc continued to participate in military campaigns against the English and their Burgundian allies.

However, her fortunes took a tragic turn in 1430. On May 23, while defending the town of Compiègne from a Burgundian assault, Joan was captured by the Burgundian forces led by John of Luxembourg.

Joan's capture was a significant blow to the French cause, and she became a valuable prisoner.

The Burgundians, who were allied with the English, eventually sold her to the English for a substantial sum.

The English were eager to discredit Joan, her divine mission, and by extension, the legitimacy of Charles VII's rule.

In an attempt to achieve this, the English orchestrated a trial against Joan, charging her with heresy, witchcraft, and various other offenses.

The trial was conducted by a pro-English ecclesiastical court led by Bishop Pierre Cauchon, who had a vested interest in seeing Joan condemned.

The trial process was heavily biased against Joan, with numerous violations of legal procedures and her rights as a defendant.

Despite facing an unfair trial and harsh conditions in prison, Joan displayed remarkable courage and resilience, maintaining her claims of divine guidance throughout the proceedings.

However, the court found her guilty of the charges, and she was sentenced to death by burning at the stake.

On May 30, 1431, Joan of Arc was executed in the marketplace of Rouen. She was only 19 years old.

Her last moments were marked by her unwavering faith, as she asked for a crucifix to be held before her and repeatedly invoked the name of Jesus.

After her death, her remains were burned multiple times to prevent the collection of relics, and her ashes were thrown into the Seine River.

Joan of Arc's divine visions have been the subject of much debate and speculation over the centuries.

While some believe in the authenticity of her spiritual experiences, others have sought alternative explanations. 

One theory, supported by many devout Christians and Catholics, accept Joan's own explanation that her visions and voices were divine in origin, coming from saints like St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret.

This perspective is consistent with the Roman Catholic Church's decision to canonize her as a saint in 1920, reinforcing the belief that her experiences were indeed of a spiritual nature.

In contrast, some modern scholars have proposed psychological and neurological explanations for Joan's visions.

For example, some suggest that she may have experienced auditory and visual hallucinations as a result of a condition like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or temporal lobe epilepsy.

These conditions could potentially explain the visions and voices she described, offering a medical perspective on her experiences.

Another theory, ergotism, suggests that Joan's visions could have been induced by the ingestion of a fungus that grows on rye and other grains.

Ergotism can cause hallucinations, muscle pain, and fever, which could potentially explain some aspects of Joan's experiences.

However, this theory remains speculative, as there is no concrete evidence to link ergotism to her specific case.

The idea of political manipulation proposes that Joan's claims of divine visions were fabricated or manipulated by others for political reasons.

This theory posits that Joan was either coached by members of the French court to strengthen their claim to the throne or that she fabricated the visions herself to gain the support of the crown and the people.

While this theory offers an intriguing perspective, it remains difficult to substantiate with historical evidence.

Some scholars argue that Joan's visions could be the result of auto-suggestion or self-hypnosis, where her intense religious devotion and desire to help her country led her to believe she was receiving divine guidance.

This theory suggests that her visions were not necessarily divine or supernatural in origin but rather a product of her own deep conviction and faith.

While various theories have been proposed, it is difficult to determine the exact cause of Joan of Arc's visions with certainty.

Joan of Arc's death was not the end of her story. In 1456, following the end of the Hundred Years' War, a posthumous retrial initiated by Charles VII found her innocent, and she was declared a martyr.

Her legend grew over the centuries, and she became a symbol of French nationalism, courage, and faith.

In 1920, nearly 500 years after her death, Joan was canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.

Joan's unwavering belief in her divine mission and her willingness to risk everything for her cause have made her a symbol of strength, perseverance, and conviction.

Her story resonates with people across different cultures and eras, serving as a testament to the power of faith and the human spirit.

As a military leader, Joan of Arc defied the expectations of her time, breaking gender norms and proving that a young, uneducated peasant girl could lead an army to victory.

Her unyielding courage and determination in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds serve as a reminder that even the most humble and unlikely individuals can make a profound impact on history.