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Joan of Arc by Mark Twain
(1412?-31). One of the most romantic figures in European war history was Joan of Arc, a peasant girl who saved
the kingdom of France from English domination. She has also been called the Maid of Orleans and the Maid of France.
When she was only 17 years old, Joan inspired a French army to break the English siege of the French city of Orleans
and to win other important victories.
Joan of Arc (in French Jeanne d'Arc) was born in the village of Domremy, in the Meuse River valley, probably in
1412. She was the daughter of a wealthy tenant farmer. From her mother she learned how to spin, sew, and cook,
and also to love and serve God. She spent much of her time praying in church.
For almost 100 years France and much of Europe had been fighting in what became known as the Hundred Years' War.
The English occupied much of northern France and the Duke of Burgundy was their ally. Because the impoverished
French king, Charles VII, had not yet been crowned, he was still called the Dauphin. Reims, where the coronation
ceremonies for French kings had been held for 1,000 years, was in enemy hands. The valley where Joan lived was
constantly overrun by armies and guerrilla bands.
Joan was only about 13 when she first saw a heavenly vision. She later claimed that St. Michael had told her to
be a good girl, to obey her mother, and to go to church often. For some time, however, she told no one of the visions.
When St. Catherine and St. Margaret commanded her to journey to the Dauphin in order to inspire his armies to clear
the way to Reims for the coronation, she told her parents and others. Her father refused to let her go.
Joan's visions continued to command her. Her friends, who believed that she was truly inspired, secured boy's clothing
and a horse for her. Several rode with her on the long trip to the Dauphin's court at Chinon. Perhaps as a test,
the Dauphin made one of his courtiers pretend to be the king. Joan, however, went directly to the true king and
greeted him. The Dauphin and his councillors were not entirely convinced of her mission, however. Months of doubt
and indecision followed while she was questioned.
Joan of Arc is portrayed on horseback in an illustration from a manuscript of about 1505. --Giraudon/Art Resource, Inc.
Slowly an army was gathered. The Dauphin equipped Joan with armor, attendants, and horses. A special banner was
made for Joan to carry into battle. On one side were the words "Jesus Maria" and a figure of God, seated
on clouds and holding a glove. The other side had a figure of the Virgin and a shield, with two angels supporting
the arms of France.
When the army at last moved toward Orleans, Joan was not its commander, but her presence inspired the soldiers
with confidence. At Orleans, after Joan disapproved of the plans made for entering the besieged city, her own plan
was adopted. From the city she led a series of sallies that so harassed and discouraged the English that they withdrew.
In one of the skirmishes Joan was wounded.
On May 8, 1429, the victory was celebrated by the first festival of Orleans. The army entered Reims on July 16.
The next day the Dauphin was crowned king as Joan stood by with her banner. (See also Hundred
Years' War.)
A decision was made to attack Paris, but the new monarch's hesitation and indecision prevented Joan's soldiers
from concerted attack. Nevertheless, Compiegne and other nearby towns were taken. A French attack on a Paris salient
was driven back and Joan was again wounded. Charles VII disbanded his army for the winter and retired southward.
Through the cold months Joan chafed at royal delay.
In the spring she returned to Compiegne, now besieged by forces of the Duke of Burgundy. On May 23, 1430, Joan,
on a sortie into the Burgundian lines, was separated from her soldiers and captured.
As a prisoner at Beaurevoir, she attempted to escape, but was injured in the leap from the donjon tower. Later
she was sold to the English, who vowed that she would be executed. They removed her to Rouen, where she was held
in chains.
Although the English wanted Joan's death, they desired her to be sentenced by an ecclesiastical court. The Burgundian-controlled
University of Paris provided the charges of heresy and witchcraft. It also provided some of the members of the
court. Other members came from areas under English occupation. Chief of the court was the bishop of Beauvais.
Joan was handed over to this bishop on Jan. 3, 1431. The sittings began on February 21 and continued intermittently
for months. Joan's appeal to be sent before the pope for judgment was denied. On May 23 she was condemned to be
burned unless she recanted. She had been held for many months in chains, threatened with torture, and harassed
by thousands of questions. In spite of all this, she had maintained her shy innocence, often confounding her oppressors
with simple, unaffected answers to tricky questions. St. Catherine and St. Margaret, she said, still counseled
her.
Faced with death in the flames, she recanted, but many historians think she did not understand what was meant in
the statement of recantation. As a result of her submission, her punishment was commuted from death to life imprisonment.
This leniency enraged the English, however, and it was not long before she was accused of relapsing from her submission.
On May 30, 1431, when she was only 19 years old, Joan was turned over to civil authority and burned to death at
the stake.
Charles VII had made no effort to save Joan. Some 25 years later he did aid her family to appeal the case to the
pope, and in 1456 a papal court annulled the judgment of 1431. On May 16, 1920, Joan of Arc was canonized a saint
by the Roman Catholic church.
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