Joan+of+Arc

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2546/3769406887_ac574e826f.jpg Joan of Arc was born in medieval times, about 1412, in Domremy, France. During this time, the Hundred Years War, a conflict between England and France, was going on. Henry VI of England and Charles VII of France both claimed the throne of France. Charles was not recognized as king by his own people as he had yet to be crowned in the English-occupied city of Reims. A treaty was made, the Treaty of Troyes, but soon the English broke it. In 1428, they laid siege to the city of Orleans, whose capture would ensure the English a chance for victory.

Four years prior, the thirteen year old peasant girl Joan began having visions. She saw the saints Margaret, Catherine, and Michael, telling her to save France. She was to drive out the English and see that the dauphin Charles was crowned at Reims. Joan explained her divine mission to the French commander, and he eventually sent her to Charles. Joan assured Charles that she would save Orleans and give him the throne. Charles gave her command of the army after she convinced him by recounting secrets he had told to God. With a suit of white armor and, legend states, a sword from the church of Saint Catherine of Fierbois, Joan led the soldiers to Orleans. She fought even after being wounded, and after ten days won the battle, becoming known as the Maid of Orleans. On July 17, 1429, Joan led Charles to his coronation.

Later, Charles made a truce with the Burgundians, a group in eastern France that had allied with the English, and disbanded the army. Joan, however, did not agree with this and continued fighting. At Compiegne in 1430, she was captured by the Burgundians. Charles did not ransom her, and she was eventually sold to the English for 10,000 pounds. The English wanted to prove that Joan could only have defeated them with witchcraft. She had a trial, but refused to deny hearing saints and did not remove her soldier's clothes. Joan became weak after months in prison, and finally did as they wanted, having been promised to attend church and confession afterward. Instead, she received a life sentence. After realizing they had lied to her, she resumed wearing her soldier's clothes, and was sentenced to death for disobedience. On May 30, 1431, she was burnt at the stake in the city of Rouen. Many attempted to change the verdict, and finally, in 1456, Pope Calixtus III declared her not guilty. In 1920 Joan of Arc was declared a saint by the Catholic Church. Works Cited
 * “Joan of Arc.” The Middle Ages: An Encyclopedia for Students. Ed. William Chester Jordan. Vol. 3. 1996. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1996. 54-55. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 8 Mar. 2010.
 * “Joan of Arc.” Women’s History. Gale Cengage Learning, 1996. Web. 9 Mar. 2010. .
 * “Joan of Arc Statue, Portland OR.” Flickr. Yahoo, 28 July 2009. Web. 6 Apr. 2010. .

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