Riddles and versions of the origin of Jeanne d'Arc. Joan of Arc - the national heroine of France
E that post about the martyr Saint Jeanne, how not to remember her, and even on the day of her execution ...
However, the execution may not have been at all ... but on May 30 official history considers the day of the burning of Jeanne d'Arc (Jeanne d "Arc), a simple peasant woman who is still known in everything and is especially revered in France as a national heroine.
Jeanne was one of the commanders of the French troops in the Hundred Years' War. Having been captured by the Burgundians, she was handed over to the British, condemned as a heretic and burned at the stake on charges of heresy and witchcraft. Almost five hundred years later (in 1920) she was canonized by the Catholic Church as a saint...
The Lord made 4 promises to the people through Jeanne: that the siege from Orleans would be lifted, that the Dauphin would be consecrated and crowned in Reims, that Paris captured by the British would be returned to the rightful king of France, and that the Duke of Orleans, then a prisoner of the British, would return to his homeland. It all seemed unbelievable, but it came true exactly.
Her image was sung in various artistic and literary works including Voltaire and Schiller. Much has been written about her. scientific research, and despite this - or perhaps precisely because of this, the disputes around her fate not only do not subside, but, on the contrary, flare up with increasing force.
The official history of the life of the Virgin of Orleans exists since the time of the Great french revolution and detailed in school textbooks.
Jeanne d'Arc was born in the village of Domremy, in Lorraine, in the family of the tiller Jacques d'Arc (Jacques or Jacquot d'Arc, about 1375-1431) and his wife Isabella (Isabelle d'Arc, nee Isabelle Romee de Vouthon, 1377- 1458) around 1412.
It was a difficult time for France. For more than seventy years, the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) had been going on, and the French had managed to lose most of the territory of the kingdom during this time.
In 1415, the British landed in Normandy with an army under the command of a talented commander - the young King Henry V.
In the autumn of 1415, the famous Battle of Agincourt took place, as a result of which the entire color of the French aristocracy was captured. started in the country Civil War between the Burgundians and the Armagnacs, while the British, meanwhile, captured one territory after another.
At the age of 13, Jeanne began to have "visions" - she heard "voices", talked with the saints, who urged her to go save France. The girl wholeheartedly believed in her unusual destiny. The saints that appeared to her alluded to the well-known prophecy, according to which one woman destroyed France, and another woman, moreover, a virgin, would save the country.
House of Jeanne d'Arc in Domremy. Now it is a museum.
The poor daughter of a plowman at the age of 17 leaves her father's house, gets to Chinon, where at that time the young king Charles VII (Charles VII, 1403-1461) was, tells him about his destiny. He, believing her, gives her a detachment of knights into submission. This is how Jeanne's career begins. There will be battles, victories, the liberation of Orleans, after which she will receive the nickname Maid of Orleans. Then - captivity, accusations, interrogations and death at the stake in 1431 ... everything seems to be simple and clear.
However, for several decades official version systematically disputed by some historians, mostly French, pointing to certain incomprehensible moments in Jeanne's biography.
Chroniclers hesitate in the name of the date of the execution of the virgin. President Hainault, superintendent in the staff of Queen Marie Leszczynska, calls the date of execution June 14, 1431. English chroniclers William Caxton (William Caxton, 1422-1491) and Polydore Virgil (Polydore Vergil, 1470-1555) claim that the execution took place in February 1432. Big difference.
Many doubts are caused by the very strange and dizzying career of Jeanne. Medieval society was strictly estate and hierarchical. For everyone in it, his place was determined among the Oratores - those who pray; Bellatores - those who fight, or Aratores - those who plow.
Tower in Rouen, where Joan was interrogated and a monument at the place of her burning.
Noble boys from the age of seven were preparing to become knights, and the peasants were treated like animals. How could it happen that a commoner was given command of a detachment of knights? How could knights, raised as warriors from birth, agree to be commanded by a peasant woman? What should have been the answer to the poor peasant girl who stands at the gates of the royal residence and demands a meeting with the king in order to tell him about her "voices"? Were there not enough cunning blessed with voices at that time? Yes full!
Joan was received in Chinon by the king's mother-in-law Yolande of Anjou (Yolande d'Aragon, duchess d'Anjou, 1379-1442), the wife of Charles VII, Marie d'Anjou, 1404-1463) and the king himself. She was brought to the court at the expense of the treasury, accompanied by an armed escort, which consisted of knights, squires, and a royal messenger. Many nobles had to wait more than one day for an audience with the king, and the “peasant woman” was allowed to see him almost immediately.
Bulletin of the Society of Archeology and the Lorraine Museum of History" reports that "in January 1429, in the square of the castle in Nancy, Jeanne on horseback took part in a tournament with a spear in the presence of the nobility and people of Lorraine." If we take into account that the battle in tournaments was possible only for the nobility, that shields with the coats of arms of the combatants were put up around the stadium, then the appearance of a peasant woman on it does not fit into any framework of that society. In addition, the length of the spear reached several meters, and only specially trained nobles could wield it. At the same tournament, she impressed everyone with her ability to ride, as well as her knowledge of the games adopted among the nobility - kenten, a game of ring. She was so impressed that the Duke of Lorraine gave her a magnificent horse.
During the coronation of Charles in Reims, only Jeanne's standard (white, studded with golden lilies) was unfurled in the choir stalls of the cathedral. Jeanne had her own court staff, including a maid of honor, a butler, a page, a chaplain, secretaries, and a stable of twelve horses.
How do you like this Zhanna, nude ... and even with a Nazi salute? This is from the French artist Gaston Bussiere (1862-1929).
Some researchers believe that Jeanne's father was the Duke of Louis of Orleans, which was known to the representatives of the dynasty (supporters of this version claim that in this case, Joan of Arc was born in 1407). Jeanne's rich wardrobe was paid for by Duke Charles of Orleans (Charles d " Orleans, 1394-1465).
But who, then, is Jeanne's mother? Following Ambelain, Etienne Weil-Reynal and Gerard Pesme believe that, most likely, this is Isabella of Bavaria (Isabeau de Baviere, 1371-1435), wife of Charles VI, mother of Charles VII. She long years was the mistress of Louis d'Orleans.
Charles VI, nicknamed the Mad (Charles VI le Fou, 1368-1422) could not stand the sight of his wife. She lived separately, in the Barbet Palace, where Louis was a frequent visitor. He was called the father of at least two of Isabella's children, Jean (born in 1398) and Charles (born in 1402). Jeanne's birth took place in this very palace, and she was immediately sent to the nurse Isabella de Vuton. It is also understandable why the child had to be hidden. It was necessary to protect the girl, since her father, Louis d'Orleans, was killed by assassins just a few days after the birth of Jeanne.
Here, again, one can single out a fact that refutes the prevailing opinion that Jeanne was just a peasant woman. Some researchers believe that the daughter of a man named Jacques d'Arc and a woman named Isabella de Vuton simply must be a noblewoman - the prefix "de" in the surname gives out a noble origin. But such a tradition arose in France only in the 17th century. In the period described, this letter meant the prefix "of". That is, Jeanne from Ark, so not everything is so simple ...
"Jeanne d" Arc. Painting by Rubens.
Representatives of the d'Arc family were in the royal service even before Joan was born. That is why this family was chosen to raise Jeanne.
Coat of arms of Joan of Arc. Illustration (Creative Commons license): Darkbob/Projet Blasons
How else can you substantiate the claim that noble origin? The coat of arms that Charles VII gave her. The royal charter says: “On the second day of June 1429 ... the lord king, having learned about the exploits of Jeanne the Virgin and the victories won for the glory of the Lord, endowed ... with the coat of arms named Jeanne ... ". Golden lilies were considered the flower of France, in other words, the symbol of "princes and princesses of the blood", which is also confirmed by the open golden crown on the coat of arms of Jeanne.
The king does not even stutter about conferring a noble title on Jeanne, which means she already has it. With his coat of arms, he makes it clear that he considers Joan a princess of royal blood.
If we consider everything that has been said true, then Jeanne will have to be recognized as the half-sister of the King of France Charles VII, the half-sister of the Dukes of the Orleans dynasty - Charles and Jean Dunois, the half-sister of the Queen of England Catherine de Valois (Catherine de Valois, 1401-1437), sister of Charles VII, aunt King of England Henry VI (Henry VI, 1421-1471). Under these circumstances, the execution of Joan at the stake in Rouen in 1431 seems unthinkable.
It was impossible to burn a girl of such high birth on charges of witchcraft. The question of why this performance was needed is too complicated, and is the topic of a separate article.
Now we are talking about something else, about Jeanne's life after ... her official execution. To understand how Jeanne was able to avoid execution, it is worth referring to the description of this sad action: “In the Old Market Square (in Rouen), 800 English soldiers forced the people to make room ... finally, a detachment of 120 people appeared ... They surrounded a woman covered ... with a hood to the very chin ... ". It is only in the paintings of artists that she has an open face and in elegant clothes.
According to historiographers, Jeanne's height was about 160 cm. Considering the double ring of soldiers around her, the cap on her face, it is not possible to say with certainty what kind of woman she was.
The opinion that another woman was burned instead of Jeanne was shared by many chroniclers and famous people, both Jeanne's contemporaries and those who lived later. In one of the chronicles kept in british museum, literally the following is said: “In the end, they ordered to burn it in front of all the people. Or some other woman like her."
And the rector of the Cathedral of St. Thibaut in Metz writes five years after the execution: “In the city of Rouen ... she was raised to the stake and burned. So they say, but the opposite has since been proven."
Even more convincing that the Orleans maiden was not burned, the materials litigation. As far back as the 16th century, the lawyer general Charles du Ly drew attention to the fact that in the documents and protocols of interrogations of the virgin there was no death sentence and official act certifying the execution of the sentence. But if the Virgin of Orleans was not burned at the stake, then what was her fate?
In 1436, five years after the fire in Rouen, an entry appears in the documents of the noble family des Armoises: “The noble Robert des Armoises (Robert des Armoises) married Jeanne du Lis, a virgin of France ... November 7, 1436.” The surname du Lis was carried by the sons of Jeanne's official father.
And in the summer of 1439, the Maid of Orleans herself came to the city she had liberated. She now bore the name of her husband - des Armois. She was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of citizens, in which there were many people who had seen her before.
Another noteworthy entry appeared in the city's account book about the payment to Jeanne des Armois large sum money - 210 livres "for the good service rendered to the city during the siege." The heroine was recognized by those who knew her well four years ago - her sister and brothers, Marshal of France Gilles de Rais (1404-1440), Jean Dunois and many others.
Jeanne died at the end of the summer - the beginning of the autumn of 1449 - the documents testifying to her death date from this period. Only after that, her "brothers" (meaning the sons of Jacques d'Arc) and the official mother (Isabella de Vouton) began to be called "brothers of the late Jeanne the Virgin" and "Isabella, mother of the late Virgin."
This is what one of the most common alternative versions of the origin of the heroine of the Hundred Years War looks like today.
Official science does not recognize the arguments of supporters of alternative versions. But one way or another, the question of the origin of Joan of Arc remains open: from the facts that speak of her noble birth, is not easy to dismiss. The basis of information: the study of Elena Ankudinova.
There are over 20 films based on the story of Joan of Arc. The first of them was filmed at the dawn of cinema, in 1898. By the way, have you watched the film “The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc”? A 1999 film, but I recommend it, where Milla Jovovich plays Jeanne.
And the French remember and love Jeanne ... and it doesn’t matter whether they burned her or not, the faith of the people in her martyrdom it is no longer possible to refute. This person is already a legend ...
Monument to Jeanne in Paris.
Pictures and photos (C) different places on the Internet.
Joan of Arc - the daughter of a simple peasant, who became a symbol of the liberation of France from English influence during the Hundred Years War and was burned on charges of witchcraft.
This time was not easy for France: as a result of the intrigues of Queen Isabella of Bavaria, a humiliating settlement agreement, according to which Henry V was recognized as the only legitimate ruler of the country. In fact, France completely lost its independence, and the Dauphin Charles VII could not do anything due to his young age, insufficient funds in the treasury and lack of support from the court. A legend spread throughout the country that a fallen woman had ruined the country, but the holy virgin would free her.
Liberator Mission
The biography of Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans) is quite well known. She was born in the village of Doremy, which is located on the border between Champagne and Lorraine, on January 6, 1412. The girl was very pious, and at the age of 12 she dreamed of the first message from St. Michael, who revealed to Joan of Arc her true destiny - to become the savior of France.
Joan of Arc heard the voices of the saints, who inspired and convinced her that she was the virgin savior. On March 6, 1429, the future national heroine arrived at the luxurious castle of Shinnon, where the Dauphin Charles was with his court, and persuaded him to gather an army for the war with the British.
It turned out to be a very difficult task to convince Charles VII to fight, then the girl had to confess to the Dauphin that she was chosen from above and hears the voices of the saints. Under the influence of Joan of Arc, the Dauphin decided to undertake a military campaign to liberate Orleans, a city that blocked the British way to the south of the country.
Previously, several attempts were made to push the British away from Orleans, because the city occupied a strategically important position and was located not far from Paris and Reims, where the crowning ceremony of the heirs to the French throne traditionally took place.
It is worth noting some Interesting Facts from the life of the great Jeanne, especially her gift for predicting events. So it was with the famous “herring battle”, which the French lost because of the slowness of the Scots allies and the indecision of the French themselves to launch an independent attack on the English supply trains. According to historical chronicles, Jeanne, at the reception of the Dauphin, was able to predict in detail given event, which strengthened her reputation as a holy seer.
The battle for Orleans was incredibly fierce, Jeanne herself participated in the battles more than once. The last assault ended in a decisive victory for the French, and the disgraced British retreated, leaving most of the loot in the barracks.
Betrayal and death
Jeanne became famous for her courage and determination, and her white armor became a symbol of French victory. The English nobility exuded poison, because the huge financial losses from an unsuccessful military operation threatened to ruin the crown, and at the same time to them:
- The huge fertile lands of the south of France, which had long been in the possession of England, were lost.
- The military indemnity, which the treasury counted on, was completely lost to the British.
- Loan debts put the representatives of the dynasty in a very difficult position for a long time.
This state of affairs could not last long, Jeanne began to slowly be removed from participation in military councils. The Dauphin longed for Joan to fulfill her destiny - to attend his coronation in the main church of Reims and thereby confirm the legitimacy of his power.
At the end of the summer of 1429, an attack on besieged Paris began, but a poorly planned operation was doomed to failure, which, in fact, happened. The king's troops failed and hastily retreated, despite Joan's insistence not to give up their positions. At the same time, the king's advisers began to secretly blame the Maiden of Orleans herself for the defeat and weave intrigues, which allowed them to completely remove the people's favorite from command.
In the autumn and winter of the same year, Jeanne actively participated in small clashes with the enemy as part of a small detachment. spring next year Jeanne is captured by the British, who were eager to take revenge on her for the shameful defeat at Orleans.
The last, most tragic stage begins in Jeanne's life, because no one was going to judge her fairly - the British sentenced her to death in absentia for what she had done for her homeland. It should be briefly mentioned that Jeanne was put on trial english church, accusing not only of heresy and wearing menswear but also in witchcraft.
Joan of Arc defended herself with incredible resourcefulness, she managed to refute stupid accusations of heresy. Jeanne also refused to wear men's clothing and armor, having given the appropriate vow, and therefore was sentenced to imprisonment until the end of life. But this decision infuriated the British, and later the virgin was again charged with witchcraft, and on May 28, 1431, she was sentenced to be burned alive in the central square of Rouen. May 30 terrible execution took place, gathering crowds of onlookers.
Canonization and role in history
The terrible death of Joan of Arc remained for a long time in people's memory, legends and legends were composed about the folk heroine, most of which have come down to our times. In 1455, Jeanne was rehabilitated, and in 1920 the church canonized her as a holy great martyr. Her two brothers were bestowed with the highest grace title of nobility and land, as well as some tax breaks.
The inhabitants of Orleans remembered the feat of Joan of Arc, and May 8 began to be celebrated as the day the city was liberated from the English invaders. A great festival is still opened with a solemn procession through the city: it is led by a girl, whose armor sparkles with silver, and she sits astride a white horse with a banner. In 1435, the play "The Mystery of the Siege of Orleans" was staged, which spoke in detail about the role of the girl in the victory over the enemies, about her heartache for the dead and wounded during the fighting.
The position of women in the Middle Ages was horrendous, and the wave of “witch hunts” that swept through Europe led to the burning of hundreds of thousands of innocent girls and women. The male world rarely forgives a woman for free-thinking and the desire for freedom, and d'Arc had to pay a high price for his feat. Author: Natalia Ivanova
Jeanne d'Arc, Virgin of Orleans (Jeanne d "Arc, January 6, 1412 - May 30, 1431) - the most famous historical figure France. In the Hundred Years' War, she acted as commander in chief, but was captured by the Burgundians and, by order of the king, was transferred to the authorities of England. As a result of a religious accusation, d'Arc was burned at the stake, and later rehabilitated and even canonized.
Childhood
Jeanne or Jeanette - as the girl called herself - was born in 1412 in the small village of Domremy, located on the border of Lorraine and Champagne. It is not known for certain who her parents were, since some sources claim that they were of the poorest origin, while others are of a quite prosperous status.
The situation is the same with the date of birth of Jeanette herself: the parish book contains an entry from 1412 about the birth of a girl, which for a long time was considered the exact date of her birth. However, on January 6, 1904, when Pope Pius X canonized d'Arc, he indicated the year 1409/1408, thereby refuting the previous information.
Almost nothing is known about Jeanne's early childhood. Only a few entries in her parents' diaries have survived that the girl was born very weak and often sick. At the age of four, she caught a bad cold and was between life and death for about a month.
And since at that time people could not yet prepare potent drugs, parents could only pray for the successful recovery of the child. Fortunately, a few months later, d'Arc fully recovered from her illness, but remained secretive and silent throughout her life.
Youth
At the age of thirteen, according to Jeanette herself, she first saw the Archangel Michael. The girl could only tell her parents about her visions, since she had no friends. But the relatives did not recognize what d'Arc said, attributing everything to Jeanne's fantasy and her desire to "acquire at least fictional friends."
But a few months later, d'Arc again tells his parents that he saw the Archangel Michael and two other women (according to scientists, these were Saints Margaret of Antioch and Catherine of Alexandria). According to the girl, the “guests” who appeared told her about her mission: to lift the siege of the city of Orleans, driving out the invaders forever, and to elevate the Dauphin to the throne.
Not having received proper support from relatives, Joan of Arc goes to Captain Robert de Bondicourt, who at that time was the manager of the city of Vaucouleurs. There, the girl tells her story, but, unfortunately, she sees an absolutely identical situation: the captain only laughs at her unhealthy fantasy and sends her back, not even wanting to listen to the end. Jeanette, annoyed by such an attitude towards her person, goes to her native Domremy, but does not give up.
A year later, the situation repeats itself: she again comes to the captain, claiming the possibility of winning the battle only if he appoints her as a commander. Decisive is the prediction of d'Arc about the outcome of the so-called "Battle of Herring", which should take place in the near future under the walls of the city of Orleans.
This time, de Bondicourt listens to the words of the girl and decides to allow her to participate in the battle. Jeanette is given men's clothing (which, by the way, she then began to prefer to numerous dresses, stating that such an image not only helps in battle, but also discourages attention from the soldiers) and is equipped along with a small detachment. It is to him that two of d'Arc's best friends subsequently join: the knights Bertrand de Pulangy and Jean de Metz.
Participation in battles
As soon as the detachment was fully equipped, Jeanette led the people behind her. For 11 days they traveled to Chinon, where the warlike woman planned to enlist the support of the Dauphin. Entering the city, she declared to the ruler that she was "sent by Heaven in order to liberate Orleans and bring peace and tranquility", and also demanded his support and provision of her army. But, despite the noble aspirations of d'Arc, King Charles hesitated for a long time whether to place his best warriors under her command.
For several weeks, he tested Jeanne d'Arc: theologians interrogated her, the messengers sought information about her at home on the orders of the king, the woman underwent numerous tests. But not a single fact was found that could discredit the name of d'Arc, after which the army in the field was completely transferred to her for command.
With the army, the young military leader goes to Blois, where she joins with another part of the army. The news that they are now commanded by a "messenger of God" causes an unprecedented morale in the soldiers. On April 29, troops under the command of d'Arc penetrate Orleans. After short battles, in which the active army loses only two, on May 4, Jeanette liberates the fortress of Saint-Loup.
Thus, a mission that is impossible for numerous military leaders is carried out without much effort by a woman in just 4 days. For such merits, Jeanne d'Arc receives the title of "Maid of Orleans", and May 8 is appointed an official holiday (by the way, it exists to this day).
Prosecution and inquisitorial process
In the autumn of the same year, immediately after the coronation of Charles, Joan of Arc, with his support, launched an attack on Paris, where at that time confusion and chaos reigned because of the desire of the English military leaders to independently command the remaining troops. However, a month later, the king, for unknown reasons, orders a retreat and, forced to obey Jeanne, leaves the army in the Loire.
Immediately after this, a message arrives about the capture of the city of Compiègne by the Burgundians, and d'Arc rushes to liberate it without even asking the consent of the new king. As a result, luck turns away from the "Maid of Orleans" and she is captured by the Burgundians, from where neither King Charles nor other influential people can save her.
On February 21, 1431, the inquisitorial hearing of Joan of Arc began, which the Burgundians, without hiding their involvement in the process, accused of heresy and disobedience to existing church canons. Jeanette was credited with both intercourse with the devil and disregard for church canons, but the woman denied any negative statements addressed to her.
Such courageous behavior only delayed the decision of the church to burn d'Arc, because, in this case, she would become a martyr and, perhaps, would encourage the people to revolt. That is why church ministers go to meanness: d’Arc is brought to the “fire that is being prepared for her” and, in exchange for life, they offer to sign a paper with a request to transfer her to a church prison because she is aware of what she has done and wants to atone for her guilt.
A woman not taught to read signs a paper, which is then replaced with another one - in which it is written about Jeanette's full recognition of everything that she was accused of. Thus, d'Arc, with his own hand, signs the verdict of burning, which is carried out on May 30, 1431, in the square of the city of Rouen.
Posthumous justification
Over the next 20 years, Joan of Arc was practically not remembered, and only by 1452, King Charles VII, knowing about the exploits of a courageous girl, decided to find out the whole truth about high-profile case of the past. He ordered to collect all the documents and find out in all details the essence and conduct of the trial of Jeanette.
To collect all the necessary information, manuscripts of church books were raised, surviving witnesses of that time were interviewed, and even messengers were sent to Domremy - the homeland of the "Maid of Orleans". By 1455, it was absolutely clear that monstrous violations of the law were committed during the hearing of the d'Arc case, and the girl herself was indeed innocent.
The restoration of the noble name of Joan of Arc took place immediately in three cities: Orleans, Paris and Rouen. Documents about her alleged involvement in the devil and the illegality of her actions were publicly torn in front of a crowd in the city square (by the way, among which were Jeanne's friends and her mother). On July 7, 1456, the case was closed, and the good name of the girl was restored. And in 1909, Pope Pius X declared Jeanne blessed, after which a solemn canonization took place.
On January 6, 1412, a daughter, Jeanne, was born in a peasant family living in the village of Domremy, and her birth was accompanied by long rooster cries. Almost immediately after her birth, she was constantly accompanied by various mystical events.
- Jeanne spent all her childhood near the place where the fairy tree grew. As you can see from the chronicle, little Jeanne was very fond of walking in the local forest. Once returning from a walk, she told her parents that near her favorite tree she saw open door which led to magical land. When she entered there, she was met by the main fairy, who predicted Joan of Arc's great known future. It was from this time that the young girl began to hear constant voices and observe strange and unusual visions.
- For the first time Jeanne heard an otherworldly voice addressed to her person at the age of 12. In a dream, he informed her that the girl had a special mission, and she must protect her king and save France.
- In 1429, word spread among the French people that "a virgin holding an ax" would save them., although there was no longer any hope that it would be possible to get rid of the English invaders. In May of this year, this prophecy was fully fulfilled when Joan of Arc attacked the English troops with her detachment.
- When Jeanne was born, Domremy was a county in its own right. Until the 19th century, d'Arc was not national hero France, as she was forgotten a few years after her death. When Napoleon came to power, he needed a "personal" hero who would arouse the pride of the French. Joan of Arc, whom Napoleon chose as such a hero, was well suited for these purposes.
- In the village where the girl lived, everyone called her Jeanette. The heroine's parents were a poor peasant Jakad'Arc and Isabelle Rome. In the 1430s, the surname d'Arc was written together, because at that time they did not yet know such a thing as an apostrophe and did not distinguish the two-letter particles “de” and “du” using writing. Since in the Middle Ages people were not yet familiar with paper bureaucracy and had no idea about identity cards, Jeanne's surname was constantly pronounced and written differently on canvases: Day, Tark, Dark Dar. Only by the end of the 16th century did the form of writing the surname familiar to the current generation appear, when one little-known poet decided to elevate and glorify the heroine and remade her initials in the current manner (noble).
- During the trial, d'Arc swore that she had not shed a single drop of blood in battles. and all the time she acted only as a strategist and military leader, throwing her army into hard-to-reach places. This was possible thanks to the gift of hypnosis, which Jeanne must have possessed.
- Another secret weapon of the girl is clairvoyance, she had no equal in this. She constantly consulted her inner voices and brilliantly won one battle after another. One of the victories of the French army, which took place under the leadership of Jeanne, even went down in history. On the part of the French, about one and a half thousand people took part in it, and on the part of the British - about 5 thousand. But, despite the clear advantage, the British fled in disgrace, leaving about 2.5 thousand dead soldiers on the battlefield, and many of those who survived were captured. French losses amounted to only 10 people.
- During the execution of Jeanne, whom the church called a witch and sentenced to death at the stake, there was mystical story. After the fire burned out, a whole and unburned heart of the lady was found in a pile of coal. He was carefully carried to the banks of the Seine River and thrown into the icy water. And a few months after this bloody execution, for various reasons, the judges and witnesses for the prosecution died.
- Thanks to her vision, which came down to the girl during the church service, she knew in advance that she would be taken prisoner when participating in the next battle, which the girl told her friends about. They dissuaded her from launching an attack, but she did not obey and was soon captured by a Burgundian archer.
- Since the rumors about the mysterious gift of Joan of Arc got to the enemies, they did not hesitate to accuse her of witchcraft and tortured her, trying to find out which voices gave her constant support. As a result of interrogations and torture, the girl contracted a fever, and the doctor who came to her bed refused treatment, saying that medicine was powerless here. But soon voices again descended on Jeanne, and after 2-3 days she was completely cured of her deadly fever.
- In 1455 Joan's mother petitioned for her rehabilitation.. Throughout the process, the testimony of 110 witnesses was heard and in July 1456 Joan of Arc was rehabilitated.
- Jeanne's contemporaries constantly talked about the girl's superpowers. When one horseman swore at the sight of Jeanne in armor, she predicted a quick death for him, which soon happened. In another case, the girl warned a friend to step aside, otherwise a projectile would hit him. When the knight departed, his place was immediately taken by another, who was immediately killed.
- When the secretary English king returned after the execution, he cried about what he saw, saying: “We all died, because we burned a good and holy man.”
- After the execution of d'Arc, the previously permitted wearing of men's clothing and armor was incriminated.. In order to get out of this situation, her supporters began to portray the girl in the paintings in a dress, but since she could not appear on the battlefield without armor at all, they chained her arms and neck in armor.
- The first poem dedicated to Jeanne was written 5 years after her death.. It includes over 20,500 verses. Voltaire, Schiller, J. Bernard Shaw, Shakespeare, Twain and others also often wrote about Jeanne. A lot of musical works Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Liszt and others dedicated to her.
Joan of Arc, The Virgin of Orleans, the national heroine of France, is now known throughout the world. This young girl in just a few months managed to unfold the history of her own country, which was on the verge of death.
Joan of Arc at the siege of Orleans. S. Lenepvö. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
In 1428, English troops were at the walls of Orleans, the fall of which would have allowed them to link occupied northern France with their long-held Guienne and Aquitaine to the south. The outcome of the battle seemed a foregone conclusion when the residence of the French Dauphin Charles a 17-year-old girl appeared, who announced to him that she was “sent by Heaven to liberate the country from English domination” and asked for troops to lift the siege of Orleans. The girl, whose name was Joan of Arc, assured that she was acting at the behest of voices from above.
On the side of "Joan the Virgin", as she called herself, there was only an impeccable reputation and unconditional confidence in her mission. And also the legend that wandered around France that the appearance of a virgin girl sent by God could save the country.
She received from the Dauphin Charles the right to lead the army. On May 8, 1429, the troops led by Jeanne lifted the siege of Orleans. After a series of victories, she led Charles to Reims, where French monarchs were traditionally crowned, and France found its rightful king.
Conscious betrayal
The maximalism of Jeanne, who demanded further release French lands, came into conflict with the intentions of Charles' entourage, who preferred to act through negotiations and concessions. The Maid of Orleans, having done her work, began to interfere. In turn, the British and their allies in France sought to get even with the one that broke all their plans.
Joan of Arc was captured and burned at the stake. Many believe that she was executed as an enemy commander, for military successes, but in fact this is not entirely true.
Joan of Arc at the coronation of Charles VII. Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, 1854. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
Opponents of the Virgin of Orleans needed not so much her life as the destruction of her as a "messenger of God." Therefore, she was accused of heresy.
Jeanne was captured on May 23, 1430, when she went with a detachment to Compiègne, besieged by the Burgundians, allied to the British. Here, the Virgin of Orleans was tritely betrayed by raising a bridge to the city, which cut off her escape route.
King Karl he did not help Jeanne, after which the Burgundians sold the girl to the British for 10,000 francs.
On December 23, 1430, Jeanne was brought to Rouen. Diploma of English King Henry VI dated January 3, 1431, transferred it to the jurisdiction of Bishop Beauvais, who was to conduct a trial on her.
Bishop Cauchon's Inquisitorial Trial
For the British, it was fundamentally important that the Virgin of Orleans be found guilty of heresy by the French clergy, which should have destroyed the image of the “messenger of God” in the eyes of the French people.
The inquisitorial process in Rouen was led by Pierre Cauchon, Bishop of Beauvais, confidant of the Duke of Burgundy.
15 doctors of sacred theology, 4 doctors of canon law, 1 doctor of both laws, 7 bachelors of theology, 11 licentiates of canon law, 4 licentiates of civil law attended the meetings in the royal chapel of the Rouen castle.
Jeanne d "Arc. Miniature of the second half of the 15th century. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
The bishop set many traps in front of Jeanne, which were supposed to convict her of heresy.
Cauchon asked her to read the Lord's Prayer in public - despite the fact that, according to the rules of the Inquisition, any mistake or even an accidental hesitation during the reading of a prayer could be interpreted as a confession of "heresy". Jeanne honorably managed to get out of the situation by inviting Cauchon to do this during confession - as a clergyman, the bishop could not refuse her, and at the same time, according to church laws, he would be forced to keep everything he heard secret.
At each of the court sessions, both open and closed, dozens of questions were asked to her, and any careless answer could serve as an “exposure”. Despite the fact that she was opposed by educated and professionally trained people, they failed to embarrass Jeanne, and she was surprisingly confident.
12 points of "misconceptions"
At a meeting on March 28, she was read 70 articles of prosecution based on the testimony of Zhanna herself. “She is a troublemaker, a rebel, disturbing and disturbing the peace, an instigator of wars, angrily hungering for human blood and forcing it to be shed, completely and shamelessly rejecting the decency and restraint of her sex, having accepted without hesitation the shameful attire and military guise. Therefore, and for many other reasons, vile to God and people, she is a violator of divine and natural laws and church deanery, a temptress of sovereigns and the common people; she allowed and allowed, in insult and rejection of God, to be revered and worshiped by her, letting her hands and clothes be kissed, taking advantage of someone else's devotion and human piety; she is a heretic, or at least strongly suspected of heresy,” the prosecution said in the preamble.
Interrogation of Joan by the Cardinal of Winchester (Paul Delaroche, 1824). Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
The court required a confession of heresy coming from Joan herself, and at first it seemed that experienced theologians would force her to confess that the "voices" that guided her were not divine, but diabolical in origin. But the Maid of Orleans steadfastly denied such accusations.
As a result, the judges decided to focus on articles where recognition was not required. First of all, it was about disregard for the authority of the church and about wearing men's clothes.
Here are the 12 main points of Jeanne's "delusions", approved by the Faculty of Theology of the University of Paris:
1) Jeanne's words about the appearances of angels and saints to her are either fiction or come from devilish spirits.
2) The appearance of an angel who brought the crown to King Charles is a fiction and an attack on the angelic rank.
3) Joan is gullible if she believes that by good counsel saints can be recognized.
4) Zhanna is superstitious and arrogant, believing she can predict the future and recognize people she hasn't seen before.
5) Jeanne breaks divine law by wearing men's clothes.
6) She encourages to kill enemies, and claims that she does this according to the will of God.
7) leaving native home She broke the covenant to honor her parents.
8) Her attempt to escape by jumping from the tower of Beaurevoir was an act of desperation leading to suicide.
10) The assertion that the saints speak French because they are not on the side of the English is blasphemous towards the saints and violates the commandment to love one's neighbor.
11) She is an idolater who summons demons.
12) She is unwilling to rely on the judgment of the Church, especially in matters of revelation.
Monument at the place of execution of Jeanne (1928). Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
"Repeated Heresy"
On May 24, 1431, Joan of Arc signed a renunciation of heresy. This was done by direct deception - Pierre Cauchon showed her an already prepared fire, after which he promised not only not to execute her, but to transfer her to prison with the best conditions. For this, Jeanne had to sign a paper in which she promised to obey the church and no longer wear a man's dress. The girl could not read, so the priest read the text. As a result, the Virgin of Orleans heard one thing, and signed (or rather, put a cross) on a paper that spoke of "a complete renunciation of heresy."
The nuance is that Jeanne's abdication allowed her to avoid the death sentence. It was officially announced that she was sentenced to repentance in eternal imprisonment "on the bread of suffering and the water of sorrow." Jeanne changed into a woman's dress and was returned to prison.
Nobody wanted to let her live. To send her to her death, they did a simple trick - the guards took away her women's clothes, leaving the men's. On May 28, 1430, the priests who came to her cell recorded a "repeated heresy". Such guilt was already inevitably punishable by death.
"Execute the sentence without shedding blood"
The legal proceedings of that time were built in a peculiar way. The ecclesiastical court, having established that Jeanne "fell into her previous delusions", handed over the criminal to the secular authorities, accompanying this procedure with a request "to execute the sentence without shedding blood." It sounds humane, but in reality it meant auto-da-fe - burning alive.
Burning of Joan of Arc. 19th century postcard. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
On May 30, 1431, the verdict on the excommunication of Joan of Arc from the church as an apostate and heretic and the surrender to secular justice was announced on the square of the Old Market in Rouen.
On the same day, Jeanne was executed. The execution procedure is described as follows: they put a paper miter on Jeanne's head with the inscription "Heretic, apostate, idolater" and led to the fire. "Bishop, I'm dying because of you. I challenge you to God's judgment!” Zhanna shouted and asked for a cross. The executioner handed her two crossed twigs. When the fire reached her, she called out "Jesus!" several times.
The execution made a depressing impression on the inhabitants of Rouen. Most of the commoners sympathized with the girl.
Rehabilitated posthumously
In the early 1450s, when King Charles VII, enthroned by Jeanne, regained control over most of the country, the problem of the Maid of Orleans again came to the fore. It turned out that the monarch received his crown from an inveterate heretic. This did not contribute to the strength of power, and Karl gave the order to collect documents for a second process.
Participants of the first trial were also involved as witnesses. One of them, Guillaume Colle, clerk and notary of the Inquisition, said that the people who judged Jeanne "died an evil death." Indeed, a number of participants in the process either disappeared or died under strange circumstances. For example, Jean Estivet, close associate of Cauchon, who did not hide his hatred for Jeanne, soon drowned in a swamp.
Tombstone of Pierre Cauchon. Chapel of St. Mary, Lisieux. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
The trial, conducted on the orders of Charles, came to the conclusion that the process took place with gross violations of the law. In 1455 a new trial of the case was appointed Pope Calixtus III, sending to observe the process of three of their representatives.
The trial was large-scale: the court sat in Paris, Rouen and Orleans, more than 100 witnesses were interrogated.
On July 7, 1456, the verdict was announced, which stated that each charge against Joan was refuted by the testimony of witnesses. The Maid of Orleans was fully acquitted, as a token of which one copy of the indictment was publicly torn up.
Saint and "pig"
Almost 500 years later, the church felt that France's national heroine deserved more. In 1909 Pope Pius X proclaimed Jeanne blessed, and on May 16, 1920, Pope Benedict XV canonized her. Today there is a statue of Saint Joan in most Catholic churches in France.
As for her judge, Bishop Pierre Cauchon, every Frenchman who begins a story about the history of the trial of Jeanne will not fail to clarify that this man fully corresponded to his surname. Cauchon means "pig" in French.
