Joan of Arc, was born in Domremy, France in 1412. Her
father, Jacques, was a farmer who also worked as an official for the town. Joan
worked on the farm and learned how to sew from her mother, Isabelle. Joan was
also very religious. When Joan was around twelve years old she had a vision.
She saw Michael the Archangel. He told her that she was to lead the French in a
battle against the English.
After she drove the English out she was to take the king to
be crowned at Rheims. Joan continued to have visions and hear voices over the
next several years. She said they were beautiful and wonderful visions from
God. When Joan turned sixteen she decided it was time to listen to her visions
and take action.
Years later the English held Joan as
prisoner and gave her a trial to prove that she was a religious heretic. They
questioned her over the course of several days trying to find something that
she had done that deserved death. They couldn't find anything wrong with her
except that she had dressed as a man, and heard voices from God. They said that
was enough to deserve death and announced her guilty.
Joan of Arc was burned alive at the stake. She asked for a cross before she died and an English soldier gave her a small wooden cross. Witnesses said she forgave her accusers and asked them to pray for her. She was only nineteen years old when she died on May 30, 1431 in Rouen, France.
Below is more information about Joan of Arc.
Joan of Arc was burned alive at the stake. She asked for a cross before she died and an English soldier gave her a small wooden cross. Witnesses said she forgave her accusers and asked them to pray for her. She was only nineteen years old when she died on May 30, 1431 in Rouen, France.
Below is more information about Joan of Arc.
Joan’s real name was Jehanne d’Arc- The woman we
know today as “Joan of Arc” was actually born as “Jehanne” in a small
northeastern French village. Last names were uncommon in medieval France, which
could explain the confusion she encountered when testifying during her trial.
Last names usually signified a significant journey or pilgrimage a person
accomplished during his or her life. The “Arc” comes from her father’s surname,
“Jacques d’Arc.” Despite this, however, she preferred to be known as Jehanne la
Pucelle, which translates to “Joan the Maiden.”
She had no formal military training-One of the
biggest Joan of Arc accomplishments (and misconceptions) includes her modern
depiction as a fierce fighting warrior. Although she’s definitely been injured
during battle, she surprisingly chose not to engage in fighting herself. Two
famous Joan of Arc quotes explain her decision, including when she stated, “I
would rather die than do something which I know to be a sin or against God’s
will.
In the second
quote, she said, “When I went against my enemy, I carried my banner myself,
lest I kill any. I have never killed a man.” Instead of fighting, Joan of Arc
lead the French troops to combat, but she, herself, restrained from
participating in violence. She strategized military plans and proposed
solutions to defeat the English. And even though her ideas were constantly
turned down, nevertheless she persisted.
She may have been bipolar, epileptic, or
schizophrenic-Great
women can have great flaws, too. Perhaps these flaws are what make them
especially unique and magnificent. Joan of Arc reported having visions and
hearing voices at only 13 years old. Experts today believe Joan suffered from a
variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including migraines, bipolar
disorder and brain lesions. All of these can trigger hallucinations and impair
thinking. During her trial, she admitted to hearing angels “instructing her to
deliver France from the invading English and establish Charles VII as the
country’s rightful king,” reports the History Channel website.
She also claimed
that a bright light would appear whenever she heard voices, a common symptom of
schizophrenia disorder. What’s strange is that these visions came true. Joan of
Arc did lead King Charles to victory over his country. Unfortunately, King
Charles did not reward her bravery, but rather he alienated her from his
army.
She was a courageous woman in history-This courageous
woman often lost her temper with the men in the army, constantly scolding those
who swore, skipped mass, and behaved badly. She was also known for scaring off
mistresses and prostitutes who frequented the men. She threatened them by
hitting them with the flat part of her sword.
“Truly, if you were to tear
me limb from limb and separate my soul from my body, I would not say anything
more. If I did say anything, afterwards I would always declare that you made me
say it by force.” (Joan
of Arc)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“Biography: Joan of Arc” by Ducksters
·
“The
5 Joan of Arc Facts You Didn’t Learn in History Class” by Natalie Sancimino
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