Essay Sample about Saint Joan of Arc

St Joan of Arc is the national heroine of France and the patroness of Soldiers. Other names she is known by include: The Maid of Orléans, Sainte Jeanne d’Arc, La Pucelle d’Orléans. She remains the only saint in history to be both cantonized and condemned by the catholic church.

Born on January 6, 1412, by the name of Jeanne d'Arc, she was birthed to parents of the French peasant class in the dubious village of Domremy, bordering the province of Lorraine. She had three brothers, Jean, Pierre, Jacquemin, and one sister, Catherine. Jacques d'Arc was their father of Jeanne and occupied the work of being a tenant farmer in northeastern France. Although she was not taught how to read or write, her mother, Isabelle Romée, ingrained a deep love for the Catholic church in Joan at a young age. 

During this era in France, the Hundred Years War had been tearing the country apart due to its rancorous relationship with England. The Hundred Year's War is the name of the extensive conflict which pitted England and France against each other from 1337-to 1453. Crown Prince Charles of Valois had not been crowned 5 years after his father's death, allowing any to challenge his rightful claim to the crown. This allowed King Henry V to become the ruler of both countries, slowly taking over all of France. 2 years later, Prince Henry VI succeeded him due to the previous king's passing however he was only an infant at the time; by that point, England had taken over most of Northern France, eventuating in the evacuation of numerous French civilians in the village of Domremy, including Joan’s family. The evacuation was fueled by the threat of invasion by the Burgundians, close allies of the British.

At the age of 13, Joan had begun to hear the voices of saints and have visions of Saint/Archangel Michael, Saint Catherine of Alexandria, and Saint Margaret of Antioch. Although they were all different saints, they had all conveyed the same message, that she had a mission, to save her homeland by driving the English and Burgundians from French territory and implementing Charles as the rightful king of the Valois kingdom of France. 

In May 1428, at the age of 16, Joan traveled to Vaucouleurs, a stronghold of those still loyal to Charles, led by the voices of the saints. Being viewed as naive, the captain of the garrison, Robert de Baudricourt rejected her proposal to join the dauphin. Although she returned home, she returned to Vaucouleurs a year later in 1429. Gaining local support and respect from the village, he soon relented, giving Joan a horse and several men for her journey.  

Around February 13, she left on her mission, accompanied by 6 men, reaching Chinon 11 days later. Arriving at the castle, Prince Charles of Valois was given conflicting advice by his counselors on whether to give her audience or to turn her away. 2 days later, he allowed her to give her a say however she was tested by the Prince hiding in the audience of courtiers. Joan quickly recognized him; she stated that she wished to battle the English and she was to have him crowned as the rightful King of France. Winning him over, she was examined for approximately 3-4 weeks. Coming to a decision, he gave Joan armor, and a horse, and allowed her to accompany the army as a commander to Orléans. 

On April 27, 1429, they set out to Orléans, a city besieged the previous year in October by the British. Surrounded by English strongholds, Joan was told to defer her attacks until reinforcements came in. During the late evening of May 4, Joan suddenly sprang up, announcing that she must attack the English. Hurrying to the English fort in the East of the city, she came across a battle currently occurring. Following her arrival, the French soon took over the fort, leading to her addressing letters of defiance to the English the next day. During the dawning of May 6 and 7th, Joan took over 2 forts resulting in the English retreat, however, Joan refused to follow in pursuit. 

Leaving Orléans on May 9, she met with Crown Prince Charles, urging him to make haste to be crowned however hesitation overcame him as his counselors advised him otherwise. Joan took over another town and important bridge, soon moving onto the Castle of Beaugency. Before attempting to attack the castle, she recruited Constable de Richemont after making him swear fidelity, even though he was under suspicion by the French court. The constable was unpopular due to their harsh manners with his political power overshadowed by favorites of Prince Charles VII. 

On June 18, 1429, The French and English battled at the Patay. That day, Joan promised a greater victory than any Prince Charles had ever won so far. This promise had been completed as the English's reputation for invincibility had been overthrown. Urging the Prince to complete his coronation for the second time, she had finally won him over. 

He was crowned King Charles VII of the Valois Kingdom of France in Reims on July 18, 1428, with Joan by his side. He soon left Reims, pursuing the possession of Paris. On August 28, a four-monthly truce for all of the land North of Seine was completed with the Burgundians. Joan was soon widely acknowledged as France's idol; she felt as if the mission had been achieved. Although she felt this way, the future did not come without struggle as supplies came too late and she was forced to withdraw from the town she had taken from Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier.

When Joan had heard that a Burgundian captain had besieged the city of Compiègne, she hurried there under the cover of the night. Although she prevailed, eventually, she was overthrown by the English reinforcements. Forced to retreat, she stayed till the last moments however she had been unhorsed and was unable to remount. Consequently, she and her brothers, Pierre and Jean, had been captured and they were taken to Marigny. During this time, King Charles VII made no effort to save her as he didn’t wish to harm his progress toward a truce with the Duke of Burgundy.

The Burgundians had held her captive for several months before exchanging her for 10,000 francs to the English. Prince Charles didn’t fully trust her resulting in her being turned over to church officials. Joan was then brought to trial before the church as there were matters regarding her faith as she threatened the hierarchy through the claims that she communicated with God through visions. Joan was convicted of 70 counts of treachery including dressing like a man, witchcraft, heresy, etc. 

Joan of Arc was burned at the stake on May 30, 1431. Approximately 20 years later, King Charles VII ordered an inquiry into the trial, resulting in Joan being canonized by Pope Benedict XV on May 16, 1920, and her sentence being annulled. On June 24, 1920, the French Parliament decreed a yearly national festival in her honor; it is held on the second Sunday in May. 

In times of anxiousness and peril, Saint Joan of Arc is one of many saints I look up to. Not only do I look up to her for her perseverance during her era, but I also look up to her for her confidence and guidance during these tough times. Her significance in the Lancastrian phase of the Hundreds Year War was truly inspiring, especially due to her dedication and loyalty to god. Her quote “Every man gives his life for what he believes. Every woman gives her life for what she believes. Sometimes people believe in little or nothing, and so they give their lives to little or nothing. One life is all we have, and we live it as we believe in living it…and then it’s gone. But to surrender who you are and to live without belief is more terrible than dying – even more terrible than dying young,” is a quote I read to myself every morning to remind myself that to give myself to believe in and pray to god is the most I can do for my beliefs.