Joan of Arc, what a war. Joan of Arc
This national heroine of France is known far beyond the borders of her country, despite more than six centuries having passed since her death. In just a couple of months, this fragile girl was able to dramatically turn around the history of her own state, which was on the brink of destruction. Nobody knew who Joan of Arc was then, but she stood up to her full height and announced that it was time to get rid of many years of English domination.
There was practically nothing behind her: no connections, no influential patrons, no army of fans. All that remained on her side was an impeccable reputation, endless love for her people, a fearless heart and unconditional confidence in her own rightness. Let's figure out together who this sweet girl was before fate threw her into the very midst of a popular uprising and how her life turned out.
The difficult Joan of Arc: biography of the most mystical maiden of the Hundred Years War
If you believe modern school textbooks, then this girl really played a colossal role in the rise of the entire French people to fight the British occupiers. It is believed that the deepest confidence of an ordinary peasant woman from a small village on the border of Lorraine and Champagne directly influenced the morale of the troops. However, is this true and are there other options?
There is an opinion that from early childhood all kinds of saints and angels began to appear to Jeanne, who guided her on the path of struggle and rebellion. Many believe that she was an extraordinary psychic, possessed incredible abilities, and therefore had an unusually significant influence on the powers that be. But why then didn’t these talents save her from the fire?
The notorious Cardinal Mazarin, whose figure is perfectly illuminated by the writer Dumas in the novel about the three musketeers “Twenty Years Later,” had his own opinion about the life story of Joan of Arc. He believed that all the hype around the Virgin of Orleans was deliberately raised. Allegedly, all this was specially invented by King Charles VII so that the people, impressed by the fables, would go where they needed to go - to overthrow the invaders.
What does Joan of Orleans mean for France?
In order to better understand the fate of the girl who was voluntarily or forcibly made into a hero, it is worth understanding what the situation was like in the country at that time. At the end of the thirties of the fourteenth century, the English ruler Edward III from the Plantagenet family suddenly announced his claims to the throne of France. He motivated this by his own origin. The fighting proceeded with varying success, but by the beginning of the fifteenth century the position of the French had worsened to an extreme degree.
The internal political situation in England “settled down”, as King Henry V of Lancaster came to power and immediately began a massive expansion to the mainland. Or rather, the formal regent Duke of Bedford did this instead, since the ruler at that time was barely nine months old. The lion's share of French lands was captured by the British, and the other was raged by internal enemies - the Armagnacs and Bourguignons.
In October of the fifteenth year, the battle of Agincourt decided the further direction: the Duke of Burgundy John (Jean) the Fearless captured Paris, driving out the unfortunate Dauphin (heir) Charles, concluded a pact with England and began to rule under the name of the Mad King Charles VI of Valois. It remained to connect the controlled northern territories with the southern ones, but Orleans stood in the way, which became a real stumbling block. The defenders fought like lions, but surrounded by enemies, the outcome of the battle was known in advance. At this moment in the historical arena, at just the right time, information appeared about Joan of Arc - the holy virgin sent by heaven to save France and give the crown to the rightful heir.
Then everything was a matter of technology: at the head of a large number of troops, Jeanne goes to Orleans and in two weeks does what men had previously been unable to do in a hundred years. Along the way, well-defended cities surrendered to her mercy, because the fame of what Joan of Arc had done and who she was ran far ahead of her.
Subsequently, Napoleon Bonaparte said that this particular girl turned out to be much more brilliant than many men in the aspect of battles, and certainly understood something about the tactics and strategy of combat. The day the blockade of Orleans was lifted went down in the history of the country - May 8 became a national holiday. For what Joan of Arc was burned, she was glorified for the same thing - such an irony of fate. However, no one can escape from their destiny. Her life ended at nineteen, but her merits would have been enough for a dozen healthy, satisfied men.
Birth and early years of the holy virgin
The origin of this amazing girl, like her place of birth, is shrouded in mystery. Most likely, it will no longer be possible to get to the bottom of the truth, but you can still try to isolate the truth from scattered evidence. According to one version, she came from fairly wealthy peasants who lived in a picturesque village with the poetic name Domremy near the border with Lorraine. According to other sources, she was a “princess of the blood” - a hereditary noblewoman from an impoverished family. Apparently, the family had a family coat of arms, since in the twenty-ninth year she took part in a knightly tournament, which was impossible for a commoner.
Little is known for certain: the girl’s father, Jacques d’Arc, was the foreman (headman) of the Vaucouleurs district and served as commandant of the fortress, and also had several fairly large land plots. He had a good income and in due time he married Isabella de Wouton, who was nicknamed Rome because of her trip to the Eternal City - Rome. It is traditionally believed that the future heroine was born in 1412. However, when canonizing her, Pius X at the beginning of the twentieth century recorded her year of birth as 1408–1409. As a child, the baby was called Jeannette, but immediately after birth, strange rumors spread in the area. They said that the baby was the daughter of Isabella of Bavaria and her lover Louis of Orleans, the brother of her own husband.
Youth of a warrior
In short, Joan of Arc, according to most historians and writers, spent her childhood in a calm rural environment. She tended cows, did housework, helped her mother in the kitchen and embroidered by candlelight on long winter evenings. The German writer Maria Josepha Kruck von Poturzin, in her book about the girl’s feat, said that little Jeannette never lost a single animal, and birds flew and sat on her arms and shoulders. It looks like a beautiful, pre-conceived legend.
She probably received a good education at home. The Duke of Alençon, as well as King Charles VII himself, who was placed on the throne through her efforts, noted her perfect knowledge of court etiquette, games popular among the nobility, and impeccable possession of weapons. An ordinary peasant girl could hardly have such talents. At the age of thirteen (Jewish adulthood), angels first appeared to Jeannette. Sometimes the “ghosts” of Margaret of Antioch, Archangel Michael and Catherine of Alexandria simply talked to her, and at other times she even saw saints. They told the warrior that she must remove the encirclement from Orleans and place the “correct” Dauphin on the throne.
Subsequently, the accusation brought against her by the Holy Inquisition was also based on this. The Jesuit brothers have compiled a list of many points, some of which are worth considering.
- Jeanne's visions are most likely fiction or hallucinations. If they are real, they most likely come from the devil, and not from God.
- The angel placing the crown on the head of the Dauphin in the visions is a clear attack on his high rank.
- The girl constantly violates God's law when she wears men's clothes.
- Having abandoned her elderly mother and father, she left her father's house, thereby breaking the commandment to honor her parents.
- The statement that she would definitely go to heaven, due to her virginity, was regarded as a disregard for the foundations of faith.
- The attempt to jump from the Beaurevoir Tower is a clear attempt to commit suicide.
The moment of conviction was still far away. At the age of sixteen, Jeanne appeared before the bright eyes of Robert de Baudricourt, captain of the city of Vaucouleurs. She announced her mission, but in response she received sincere laughter - she was booed. The girl was forced to return to her native land. But a year later she decided to try again.
Surprised by such persistence, the captain listened, and when the peasant woman’s prophecy about the Battle of the Herrings (Battle of Rouvray) near the walls of Orleans came true, he gave her a man’s dress, supplied her with soldiers to accompany her and sent her with a blessing to the Chinon castle near the Vienne River - the official residence of the Dauphin Charles. Just at this time, Jeannette had two bosom friends who would walk side by side throughout her short and difficult journey: knights Bertrand de Poulangy and Jean de Nuyonpont (de Metz).
Guided by God for the Good of France
The travelers managed to complete their long journey from their native Domremy to Chinon in just eleven days, despite the fact that it ran through lands captured by the Burgundians. At the beginning of March 1929, the “delegation” entered the heir’s castle.
Interesting
While still on the road, stopping in Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois, Jeanne wrote to the Dauphin that she recognized him from a thousand. Then Karl decided to carry out a test: he placed one of his close associates on his throne, and he himself stood among a motley crowd of courtiers. But the girl immediately pointed to him, came up and spoke.
Military campaign, victory and coronation of a new ruler
How exactly and why Joan of Arc recognized the man is not known for certain. How an ordinary peasant woman could have been allowed to have an audience with him is the same, but historians describe their conversation in sufficient detail. The girl stated that she was sent by Heaven itself to liberate great France from the invaders, so he must send troops with her. However, her authority was not so high that she would simply be given an entire army at her disposal, given that she was female in a society of male dominance.
First of all, she was sent for an examination, where she was tested for virginity in the presence of the queen. Therefore, the conversation with the girl was conducted by theologians - Jesuit fathers. Everything spoke of the innocence of her reputation and the truthfulness of her words, so Karl decided to allocate soldiers and even make her a military commander, contrary to the generally accepted norms of that time (the ban on women wearing armor). Snow-white armor was made for Jeannette, which emphasized her innocence. A banner with lilies and the inscription “Jesus Mary” was specially made, as well as a banner with the image of God the Father. The sword given to Jeanne, according to legend, belonged to Charlemagne himself.
At the end of April, the true war of Joan of Arc of the Maid of Orleans began: with a small detachment she takes the first line - the fortress of Saint-Loup, and by the eighth of May the English invaders lift the siege, frightened by her victories. Since then, this date has become significant for the city and all of France. On June 12 of the same year, she took the Jargeau fortress on the Loire, then Meun-sur-Loire and Beaugency. On the eighteenth, the decisive battle of Pathé took place, after which the British occupiers were forced to capitulate.
Then she returns to Chinon to summon the Dauphin to anointing in Reims, the traditional place for coronation. Along the way, the cities themselves opened their gates to welcome the future king and the brave warrior. On July 17, 1429, the coronation took place according to all the rules, and the girl was awarded her own coat of arms with the image of a white lily - a symbol of purity and virginity. The girl urged Charles to immediately march on the capital, but he hesitated, and by September he completely disbanded the army to go home for the winter.
Accusing a girl of witchcraft
By that time, Joan of Arc had become famous throughout France. Everyone knew what kind of girl she was, but there were also plenty of dissatisfied people, especially those who benefited from the British occupation. In the spring of 1430, the problem of taking Paris again became urgent, troops were convened, but the aristocrats bribed by Britain constantly prevented the warrior from developing to full power. On the twenty-third of May they raise the bridge, after which the girl is captured by the Burgundians, and the newly-minted king makes absolutely no attempts to save her - such is the gratitude of those in power to the “anointed of God.”
Jeanne was sold to the British for ten thousand livres in gold, and at the end of November she was already taken to Rouen, where she was accused of witchcraft. The attacks came from the church, but the girl was kept in a military dungeon under the guard of imperial soldiers. It was clear to everyone why Joan of Arc was captured and why she was executed in the end: she was considered the inspirer of the struggle, its symbol.
However, it turned out that fabricating a case is not so simple. The girl was courageous, answered questions sensibly, did not give in to intimidation and threats, did not react to torture, and did not admit her guilt at all. The inquisitors understood that if the accused herself did not confess, then by executing her they would elevate her to the level of a martyr heroine. Therefore, it was decided to base it on what did not require its confirmation. At the first hearing, Zhanna was acquitted, but was never released. Then they took away her clothes and left only a man's dress. After the acquittal, it already looked like a relapse, and that was all the inquisitors needed.
They frightened her with a fire, replaced the papers for her signature, and did everything to make the verdict legal. This indicates that the girl still did not know how to read and write. On official documents of the church there is a cross instead of a signature. On May 30, 1431, a cart with a virgin entered the main square of Rouen, where Joan of Arc was executed. On her head she wore a paper crown with inscriptions about apostasy and heresy. As a cross, she received two twigs tied with a rope, and the fire was lit. Several times she shouted out the name of the Son of God - Jesus, and died, and her ashes were scattered over the Seine.
Posthumous rehabilitation
The years of Joan of Arc, the description of which can impress even the most inveterate skeptics, were not in vain. The occupiers were never able to recover from such a crushing blow as it dealt. In the autumn of 1935, France finally made peace with Burgundy by concluding the Alliance of Arras against the British. The war was completely completed only in 1953, but ultimately the country gained complete independence. Immediately after the end of hostilities in Normandy, in 52, Charles VII, repenting, ordered all the papers on the executed maiden to be raised and the authenticity of the accusations investigated. Many violations were found, despite the passage of time.
In the fifty-fifth year, Pope Calixtus III initiated the acquittal process and even appointed three observers. Meetings were held in Rouen, Paris and Orleans. More than a hundred witnesses were questioned, many sheets of their testimony were recorded, and the following summer the verdict was read out - each accusation was completely refuted by eyewitness testimony. The girl's good name was restored, her parents were given due honors, and the old sentence was publicly torn apart. At the dawn of the twentieth century, Pope Pius X decided to declare Joan blessed and canonize him, which he successfully did on May sixteenth, 1921.
An alternative version of life after the burning and the memory of the heroine of France
However, many believe that in reality everything was different. It is known that the “Book of Poitiers” (the interrogation protocols of Jeanne) has not survived, and it can only be judged by references to it from the protocols of two courts - first the inquisition, and then the acquittal. The death sentence itself, according to which the maiden was burned, was also not found, but this is a moot point. After all, it is known that it was torn and destroyed in front of a crowd of onlookers.
There are versions that she was never burned, and after four years of imprisonment she came out of prison and immediately married Robert des Armoises under the name of Jeanne du Lys. According to other rumors, the inquisitors burned another woman who was similar in appearance. There is a document that indicates the allocation of two hundred livres from Orleans “for the good service rendered to the city during the siege,” but it is hardly possible to get to the bottom of the truth, and there were plenty of false prophets and adventurers at all times.
The asteroid discovered at the end of the nineteenth century was named after the heroine: (127) Jeanne. In the twentieth century, many squares and streets were named after her, and monuments to the great warrior can be found throughout the country. Poets, artists, writers, directors and other artists often turn to the theme of her existence and feat, among them Vireille de Gravier, Symphorien Champier, Mark Twain, Robert Southey, Carl Theodor Dreyer, Luc Besson, Clémence Poésy and many others.
Young French girl Joan of Arc managed to turn the tide of the 100-year war, and led French troops to victory under her banner. She managed to do what many experienced French commanders considered impossible - defeat the British.
Brief biography of Joan of Arc
The official date of birth of Joan of Arc is considered January 6, 1412(there are 2 more dates - January 6, 1408 and 1409). She was born in the French village of Domremy into a family of wealthy peasants.
Voice of Archangel Michael
When was Joan of Arc born? 13 years, she, according to her, heard the voice of Archangel Michael, who told her about the great mission: Joan was supposed to break the siege of Orleans by the British and win the battle.
Persistent girl
The visions were repeated, and at 16 years old the girl went to one of the captains of the French army - Robert de Baudricourt. She spoke about her visions and asked to give her people under command and escort them to the court of the Dauphin (the heir of Charles VI).
Joan of Arc's persistence prevailed over the captain's ridicule, and he gave her people to accompany her to the king, and also provided her with men's clothing, so as not to “embarrass the soldiers.”
Meeting with the King
March 14, 1429 Jeanne arrived at the residence of the Dauphin Charles - the castle Chinon. She told him that she had been sent by Heaven to liberate the country from English rule and asked for troops to lift the siege of Orleans.
In France there was a belief that a young virgin, sent by God, would help the army win the war
The girl amazed the courtiers and the king himself with her skill horse riding and art weapon ownership. There was an impression that she was raised not in a peasant family, but “in special schools.”
Zhanna - commander-in-chief
After the matrons confirmed Jeanne's virginity and numerous other checks were carried out, Charles made a decision make her commander in chief with his troops and lead them to Orleans.
After this, armor was made for the girl and delivered at her request. Charlemagne's sword, which was kept in the church of Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois. Then she headed to the city of Blois, designated as a meeting point for the army, and at the head of the army set out for Orleans.
"Maid of Orleans"
The news that the army was led by the messenger of God caused an extraordinary moral upsurge in the army. The commanders and soldiers who had lost hope, tired of endless defeats, were inspired and regained their courage.
April 29, 1429 Joan of Arc with a small detachment enters Orleans. On May 4, her army won its first victory, taking the bastion Saint-Loup. Victories followed one after another, and already on the morning of May 8, the British were forced to lift the siege of the city.
Thus, Joan of Arc solved the task that other French military leaders considered impossible in four days. After the victory at Orleans, Jeanne was nicknamed the "Maid of Orleans". May 8th is celebrated to this day every year in Orleans as the main holiday of the city.
With the help of Jeanne, they managed to capture several more important fortresses. The French army recaptured one city after another.
Betrayal and burning
in spring 1430 After a year's absence of military action due to the indecisiveness of Charles VII and palace intrigues, Joan of Arc again led the troops, her banner in front. She rushed to the aid of the besieged city Compiegne, but fell into a trap - a bridge was raised in the city, and she could no longer escape from it.
The Burgundians sold it to the English for 10,000 gold livres. In February 1431, a trial took place over her in Rouen, which sentenced her to be burned as a heretic. The verdict came into force 30 May 1431– Joan of Arc was burned alive in the Old Market Square.
Rehabilitation and canonization
At the end of the Hundred Years' War, Charles VII ordered an investigation into the legality of the trial of the young heroine. It was established that the English court had many gross violations.
Joan of Arc was rehabilitated summer of 1456, and after 548 years - in 1920 she was canonized (canonized) in the Catholic Church.
Monument to Joan of Arc in Domremy-la-Pucelle Joan of Arc, the famous Maid of Orleans, was born into an ordinary poor peasant family in the town of Domremy. This happened in 1412 - on Christmas night, January 6th. There is a legend that in Domremi, at dawn, roosters woke up the villagers with an unusual, amazing cry, announcing new joy. However, this is just [...]
- the famous Maid of Orleans - was born into an ordinary poor peasant family, in the town of Domremi. This happened in 1412 - on Christmas night, January 6th. There is a legend that in Domremi, at dawn, roosters woke up the villagers with an unusual, amazing cry, announcing new joy. However, this is just a legend - there are no documentary chronicles of such an event.
Zhanna lived with her parents and two brothers. The Hundred Years' War was going on. Times were hard for France. The rightful heir to the throne is the Dauphin Charles VII- the future king - was removed from power. The ruler of France under the Treaty of Troyes became Henry V- English king. In fact, the French state was annexing England. The queen was secretly accused of this Isabella of Bavaria. A prophecy spread among the people, promising: if a woman destroyed France, then the Virgin would save her.
According to the recollections of Zhanna herself, at the age of 12 she had a vision. A shining cloud appeared, from which the voice of the King of Heaven was heard. He called her the chosen one and ordered her to act - to go and lift the siege from the city of Orleans. Voices began to appear to Zhanna every day. She was visited by visions of saints - Archangel Michael, Catherine and Margaret.
On March 6, 1429, a young girl in a man's dress came to the castle of Chinon and sought an audience with Charles VII. She managed to convince the Dauphin, and she was entrusted with a military detachment. This detachment under her leadership inflicted several crushing blows on the British. The siege was lifted. It took Jeanne's detachment nine days to liberate Orleans. The date of liberation of the city is considered to be 05/08/1429. In Orleans, this day has been dedicated to Joan of Arc for many centuries.
Napoleon Bonaparte, who had an excellent understanding of battle strategies, recognized that Joan was a military genius.
After the siege of Orleans was lifted, disputes began in the Royal Council. Jeanne convinced everyone of the need to march on Reims for the coronation of Charles VII. This would be a de facto declaration of French independence. The courtiers objected, but Jeanne managed to convince the Council. The campaign was successful, the liberation of Troyes decided the outcome of the company. The army of the Maid of Orleans covered three hundred kilometers in three weeks.
Joan of Arc at the coronation of Charles VII (Dominique Ingres, 1780-1867)
The coronation took place at Reims Cathedral on July 17. Jeanne was also present there with a military banner in her hands.
In August, the royal army tried to take Paris but was defeated. The newly made king behaved strangely. Instead of another offensive, he concluded a truce with the Burgundians. On January 21, 1930, the army was disbanded. Jeanne's squad continued to fight, but began to suffer defeats - one after another. While trying to liberate Compiegne, on May 23, 1430, the detachment was captured by the Burgundians during a sortie. Six months later they handed Jeanne over to the British. All this time she was waiting for help from the French government - but in vain.
So Jeanne ended up in English captivity. She was eighteen years old. There were rumors that the girl was betrayed by those close to Charles VII, for whom she fought.
The tower in Rouen where Joan of Arc was imprisoned.
In Rouen she was kept in a cage in the basement of the Bouvreuil Castle, then transferred to a cell. She was kept there, chained to the wall. The trial began in January 1431. The Inquisition brought charges against Joan of Arc on twelve counts. In the life of the Maid of Orleans, a struggle began with new weapons and other opponents. 132 members of the tribunal spoke out against her. Every day she was asked dozens of questions. She was accused of wearing a man's dress, and of visions - allegedly of the devil, and of seducing the king. The main accusation was her refusal to submit to the mainstream church.
In Paris, at the same time, Henry VI was declared monarch of France and England. Therefore, the court in Rouen had to prove that Charles VII was elevated to the throne by an unholy heretic and witch.
Still, they decided to refuse torture. For Jeanne, they came up with and wrote down a “formula” of renunciation - refusal to wear men’s clothing and prophetic visions. Under pain of death, the girl signed a protocol of renunciation. She was sentenced to life imprisonment, transferred to the old cell and again shackled. Later, in prison, she was given a man's dress. It was a provocation.
Perhaps Jeanne was forced to put on this costume again, or maybe she did it voluntarily - but in the eyes of the churchmen this meant a return to heresy. After this, Jeanne declared that she was renouncing her renunciation, that she was ashamed of her apostasy and betrayal of her own ideals.
The tribunal signed the decision to extradite her to secular authorities.
In 1431, at dawn on May 30, Joan of Arc, dressed in a long dress and cap, was taken out of prison and put into a carriage.
The fire in Rouen's market square burned for several hours. When it was finally over, Jeanne's executioner came to the Dominican monastery. He repented and cried. The executioner said that Jeanne’s heart did not burn even after he collected coals around it several times. Then he put everything that was left in the bag and threw Jeanne's heart into the Seine.
Twenty-five years later a new trial took place. It heard 115 witnesses. Zhanna was rehabilitated and was recognized as a national heroine. In 1920, the Roman Church declared Joan a saint. Her mission to save France was recognized as true.
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Every second Sunday in May, France celebrates the Day of Remembrance of Joan of Arc, the famous Maid of Orleans, who led the French army during the Hundred Years' War, won several decisive military victories, crowned the Dauphin Charles VII, but was captured by traitors from Burgundy and burned at the stake. by the British. The execution of Joan of Arc took place in Rouen on May 30, 1431. 25 years after her execution, she was rehabilitated and recognized as a national heroine, and in the 20th century, the Catholic Church declared her a saint. This is the official version. But many myths and legends are associated with Joan of Arc. According to some sources, the Maid of Orleans was a village shepherdess, according to others, a noble lady.
Shepherdess
According to the most common version, Joan of Arc was born into the family of a village headman in the village of Domremy on the border of Alsace in 1412. One day she heard the voices of Saints Catherine and Margaret, who told her that she was destined to save France from the invasion of the English.
Having learned about her destiny, Jeanne left her home, achieved a meeting with the Dauphin Charles VII and led the French army. She managed to liberate several cities, including Orleans, after which she began to be called the Maid of Orleans. Soon Charles VII was crowned in Reims, and Joan won several more important victories.
On May 23, 1430, near the city of Compiegne, Joan of Arc’s detachment was captured by the Burgundians. They handed over the Maid of Orleans to the Duke of Luxembourg, and he, in turn, handed over to the British. There were rumors that those close to Charles VII had betrayed Joan.
The trial of Joan of Arc began in January 1431 in Rouen. The Inquisition brought forward 12 charges. Meanwhile, in Paris, Henry VI was proclaimed king of France and England. The main purpose of Joan's trial was to prove that Charles VII was elevated to the throne by a witch and heretic.
Bishop Pierre Cauchon conducted the trial. Even before the trial began, he subjected the girl to a medical examination to establish that she was not innocent and that she had entered into a relationship with the devil. However, an examination showed that Zhanna was a virgin, so the court was forced to abandon this charge.
The trial of Joan of Arc lasted several months. It was full of tricky questions and cunning traps, into which, according to the inquisitors, the girl was supposed to fall. As a result, on May 29, 1431, a final decision was made to transfer the defendant into the hands of secular authorities. Jeanne was sentenced to be burned at the stake. On May 30, 1431, the sentence was carried out.
Mentally ill
The legend of the great young warrior was dealt a significant blow by the famous French historian and philosopher Robert Caratini. In his monograph "Joan of Arc: from Domremy to Orleans" he stated that the story of the Maid of Orleans as we know it has little to do with the truth. The expert claims that in fact Joan was a mentally ill girl, which politicians and senior military officials quite skillfully used for their own purposes to awaken hatred of England in the souls of the French.
Caratini writes that all the battles that were supposedly won by the French under the leadership of Joan of Arc were minor skirmishes like a Russian fist fight at a fair. The French historian also adds that the maiden herself did not participate in any of them, and that she did not I've never picked up a sword in my life.
Robert Caratini argued that Joan of Arc herself did not influence the course of events in any way, but served only as a symbol, a kind of iconic figure with the help of which French politicians whipped up anti-English sentiments.
The French historian also questions the fact that Joan of Arc saved the besieged Orleans. This city, writes Caratini, was simply not besieged by anyone. An English army of five thousand people wandered around the area adjacent to Orleans. There was not a single one in the city itself at that time French soldier Finally, the French army under the command of Charles VII arrived at the walls of Orleans with great delay, but this was not followed by any military action.
According to Caratini, in 1429, Joan of Arc was actually in military service, but remained in the army as a kind of living talisman. The historian believed that she was an unbalanced girl, with obvious signs of mental disorder. The reason for her condition could have been horrors war, but not the Hundred Years' War, but another - the ongoing battle between France and Burgundy... And since Jeanne's native village was located on the border, even as a child the impressionable girl had to see quite a lot of terrible pictures.
The British responded to Robert Caratini's book with applause. For more than five centuries, the entire enlightened world condemned the British for the merciless reprisal of the Maid of Orleans, however, this part of the story, the French scientist believes, is also fiction.
Joan of Arc was captured in Burgundy. Then the Sorbonne of Paris sent a letter to the Duke of Burgundy with a request to hand over the girl to the university. However, the Duke refused the Sorbonne. After holding Joan for eight months, he sold her to Henry VI of England for 10 thousand pounds. Henry handed over Joan to the French church. The Maid of Orleans was tried in Normandy by 126 Sorbonne judges, then she was executed. The British did not take any part in all this at all, Caratini believes.
The historian also claims that the legend of Joan of Arc was created only at the end of the 19th century, because the French rulers of that time needed new heroes, and the young maiden, who fell victim to dynastic squabbles, was ideal for this role.
Married lady and mother
Rumors that Joan of Arc did not actually die, but was saved, began to spread among the people immediately after her execution. According to one version, which, in particular, is presented in Efim Chernyak’s book “The Judicial Loop,” Joan of Arc not only escaped death at the stake, but also got married and gave birth to two sons. Her husband was a man named Robert d'Armoise, whose descendants still consider themselves relatives of the Maid of Orleans and claim that their respected ancestor would not have married a woman for all the treasures of the world who would not have presented him with genuine documents certifying her true identity. origin.
For the first time, the new Jeanne, or, as she was already called, Madame d’Armoise, appeared about five years after her tragic death. In 1436, Jeanne's brother Jean du Lye often sent letters to his sister and went to see her in the city of Arlon. Records of relevant expenses are preserved in the account book of Orleans.
It is known that this mysterious lady lived in Arlon, where she led a busy social life. In 1439, the miraculously resurrected Jeanne appeared in Orleans, which she had once liberated. Judging by the entries in the same account book, the residents of Orleans greeted Jeanne d'Armoise more than warmly. Not only were they recognized, but noble townspeople held a gala dinner in her honor; in addition, Jeanne was presented with a gift of 210 livres “for the good service she rendered to the specified city during the siege.” There is indirect evidence that the mother of the real Joan of Arc, Isabella Romeu, could have been in Orleans at this time.
The resurrected Jeanne was also warmly welcomed in Tours, the village of Grande-aux-Ormes and several other settlements. In 1440, on the way to Paris, Madame d'Armoise was arrested, declared an impostor and pilloried. She repented of taking the name of the Maid of Orleans and was released.
They say that after the death of her husband Robert d'Armoise, this Jeanne married again. And at the end of the 50s, the lady was granted an official pardon for daring to impersonate Joan of Arc.
King's daughter
Another sensational statement was made by Ukrainian anthropologist Sergei Gorbenko: Joan of Arc did not die at the stake, but lived to be 57 years old. He also claims that Jeanne was not a simple village girl, as popular legend says, but came from the royal Valois dynasty.
The scientist believes that the historical name of the famous Maid of Orleans is Marguerite de Champdiver. Sergei Gorbenko examined the remains in the sarcophagus of the Notre-Dame de Clery Saint-André church near Orleans and discovered that the female skull, which was kept along with the king’s skull, did not belong to Queen Charlotte, who died at the age of 38, but to another woman who was not less than 57 years old. The specialist came to the conclusion that in front of him were the remains of the same Joan of Arc, who in fact was the illegitimate princess of the house of Valois. Her father was King Charles VI, and her mother was the king's last mistress, Odette de Champdivers.
The girl was raised under the supervision of her father-king as a warrior, so she could wear knightly armor. This also explains how Jeanne could write letters (something an illiterate peasant girl would not have been able to do).
According to this version, the death of Joan of Arc was simulated by Charles VII: instead of her, a completely different woman was sent to the stake.
King's sister
According to another legend, Joan of Arc was the illegitimate daughter of Queen Isabella, half-sister of King Charles VII. This version explains, in particular, how a simple village girl managed to force the king to accept her, listen to her, and even believe that she would be the one who would save France.
In addition, it always seemed strange to many researchers that a girl from a village family was too well versed in the political situation in the country, from childhood she owned a battle spear, which was the privilege of only nobles, spoke pure French without a provincial accent and allowed herself to communicate with any respect. with crowned heads.
There is a version according to which Joan of Arc was called the Maid of Orleans not only because of her liberation of Orleans, but also because of her involvement in the royal House of Orleans. It is possible that this version has some basis. In 1407, Queen Isabella did give birth to an illegitimate child, whose father was apparently the Duke of Louis d'Orléans. The baby is believed to have died soon after, but the grave and remains of this child, whose gender was not specified in historical documents of the time, could not be located. Later, in a detailed work on the history of France, which was published in the 18th century, this baby was first called Philip, and in subsequent reprints already Jeanne.
The question of how old Joan of Arc really was when she went to the stake is still controversial. During one of the interrogations, she once indicated her age - “about 19 years old.” Another time she found it difficult to answer this question. However, when Jeanne first met the Dauphin Charles VII, she said that she was “three times seven years old.” Thus, it turns out that she was a little older than her canonized age and could well have turned out to be the illegitimate child of Queen Isabella.
In "The Judicial Loop" it is mentioned that Jeanne was medically examined twice. And both times the inspection was carried out by very high-ranking persons: first by Queens Maria of Anjou and Iolanta of Aragon, then by the Duchess of Bedford, who was the aunt of Charles VII. “You only need to imagine the class differences in medieval society,” the author writes, “to understand: the honor that Jeanne was awarded could not be given to a simple shepherdess.”
The material was prepared based on information from open sources
From 1337 to 1453, France “raged” Hundred Years' War between France and England. This, of course, does not mean that for all 116 years people constantly fought and killed each other. For some time, active actions were carried out, then they faded away, and the inhabitants of the warring countries received a respite for a couple of decades.
As a matter of fact, at that time the whole world lived in a similar way. Peaceful life was interrupted by military clashes, which gradually turned into quiet and peaceful times. Today the situation is almost the same. Military conflicts break out in one place and then in another. In this case, both military personnel and civilians die.
So there is no need to overdramatize that distant time, especially since it was a dynastic war, where various political forces fought for the throne. But, as always, it was the people who were at the extreme. During the Hundred Years' War, the population of France decreased by two-thirds. But people mostly died not at the hands of enemies, but from epidemics. What was the cost of the plague epidemic of 1346-1351? She destroyed half of the French, turning the country into a semi-desert.
In the 15th century, the inhabitants of France were so tired of the British claims to the French throne that the war acquired the national characteristics of a struggle for independence. People are tired of constant strife and claims to the crown.
At the beginning of the second decade, a rumor spread throughout the country that France would be saved Virgin. When it would appear, where it would come from, no one could say. But many church ministers told the flock that the coming of the Virgin was just around the corner.
It is she who will put an end to the strife, murders and proclaim the man to whom the throne will rightfully belong as the king of France. She will also defeat the hordes of the British, and the people will finally receive the long-awaited and eternal peace.
Meanwhile, life went on as usual. People lived, died, were born. In 1412, in the village of Domremy, on the border of Champagne and Lorraine, a girl was born into a wealthy peasant family. They named her Zhanna. The child’s full name was: , since the baby’s father was Jacques d’Arc (1380-1431). The mother was Isabella de Vouton (1385-1458), who, in addition to Jeanne, gave birth to a girl, Catherine, and three boys: Pierre, Jean and Jacqulot.
Some meticulous people may be confused by the letter “d” in the name of a simple peasant girl. We are all accustomed to thinking that such a letter (apostrophe) was attached only to noble names. Let's remember D'Artagnan from The Three Musketeers. But the thing is that such a tradition arose only in the 17th century. During the period described, this letter meant the prefix “from”. That is, Jeanne from Arc. Such a town existed in the 15th century. It was located just a few kilometers from the city of Chaumont, just in the Champagne region. Champagne itself, as we all know, is located in the northeast of France.
The house where Joan of Arc spent her childhood
Life in a rich peasant family did not at all involve idle pastime. Zhanna learned hard work from a very young age. She tended cows and fed pigs and chickens. The girl learned to ride a horse early, like any other French woman who lived in that distant time. She skillfully handled edged weapons. This was necessary for self-defense. After all, the war gave birth to a lot of motley public hanging around France.
As the official version says, from the age of 13 our heroine began to have visions. She contemplated the Archangel Michael, as well as the Great Martyr Catherine of Alexandria. Saint Margaret of Antioch also came to her. Allegedly, they all pointed out that it was Jeanne who was the Virgin who must save France from the invaders and establish eternal peace and harmony on earth. But this can only be done by force of arms. Therefore, the girl was endowed with the necessary providence capable of defeating the enemy.
Believing in her destiny, the young creature shared information with her parents and brothers. The father tried to dissuade his daughter from the holy mission, and the brothers expressed their readiness to follow Jeanne wherever she would lead them.
When the girl turned 17, she mounted a horse and, accompanied by her brothers Pierre and Jean, rode to the city of Vaucouleurs (Lorraine). Arriving at the place, our heroine appeared before the commander of the troops stationed in eastern France, Duke Baudricourt. She told him about her gift and asked for a recommendation to the Dauphin (heir to the throne) Charles.
Naturally, the Duke was incredulous at the assertion that the very Virgin who must save France was standing in front of him. Then Zhanna said: “Today is February 10th. Two days later, near Orleans, the British, with small forces, would defeat a large French detachment. You will learn about this in the morning on February 13, and in the afternoon I will come to you.” With these words, the girl left the surprised duke.
And indeed, on February 12, 1429, the Battle of Rouvray took place. On the one hand, a small English detachment took part in it, which carried food and ammunition to the troops besieging Orleans. On the other side was a fairly strong French military unit. It attacked the British, expecting an easy victory, but everything turned out the other way around. It was the French detachment that suffered complete defeat, losing a third of its personnel.
When, at the appointed time, Jeanne appeared before the Duke, he no longer doubted her mission. He gave our heroine a letter of recommendation and assigned a small armed detachment to her, since the road to the Dauphin was difficult and dangerous.
The pretender to the French throne was in Chinon. These are lands in northwestern France. They contain a city of the same name and a fortress, also called Chinon. It was here that the residence of the Dauphin Charles, who entered into confrontation with the English king Henry V, was located.
To get to the goal of her journey, the savior of France had to travel most of the way through enemy territory. Therefore, an armed detachment came in handy.
The journey went well, and on March 7 the girl appeared before the Dauphin. There is a legend here. It says that Karl, having read the letter of recommendation from Duke Baudricourt, decided to test the supernatural abilities of our heroine.
When she was invited into the hall where the throne stood, the Dauphin mingled with the crowd of courtiers, and a completely different person sat in the crowned place. But Zhanna immediately recognized the trick. She found Karl among many people, although she had never seen him in person. After that, all doubts about her unusual abilities disappeared.
The Dauphin believed that the very Virgin who was supposed to save France had come to him. He made her commander over all his troops. People, having learned who would now lead them, were transformed. If earlier soldiers and their commanders behaved sluggishly and indecisively in a combat situation, now they were eager to fight the enemy.
The church ministers allowed Zhanna to wear men's clothing. They made special armor for her, since the girl was naturally smaller than the men in terms of her build.
At the end of April, the army led by Joan of Arc came to the aid of the besieged Orleans. At the same time, the morale of the soldiers was incredibly high. In the English army, depressed and panicky moods began to prevail. The British were frightened by the very thought that they would now fight with the messenger of God. This explains the incredible successes of the French, who had previously suffered one defeat after another.
Joan of Arc enters liberated Orleans
It took the Virgin only 4 days to defeat the completely demoralized enemy troops besieging Orleans. After this brilliant victory, our heroine received the nickname - Maid of Orleans. It went down in history as a symbol of selflessness and devotion to its people.
In June, Joan of Arc carried out a brilliant Loire operation. The knightly castles located in the middle reaches of the Loire River were captured by the British. The French liberated them one after another. The final chord of the operation was the Battle of Pata on June 18, 1429. In this battle, the English army suffered a crushing defeat.
The authority of the Maid of Orleans reached unprecedented heights, and the British finally lost heart. It would have been a sin not to take advantage of such a favorable situation. Our heroine went to the Dauphin with a proposal to immediately leave for Reims.
In this city, located on the northeastern tip of France, all the monarchs of the state, starting with Louis I the Pious, were crowned. This historical event took place in 816, and the tradition continued until 1825, when Charles X, the last representative of the senior branch of the Bourbons, ascended the French throne.
On June 29, 1420, the procession moved towards Reims. It turned into a victorious campaign across French soil, wounded and tired from many years of war. At the same time, the British did not offer resistance anywhere, and the cities opened their gates one after another and unconditionally recognized the power of Charles.
The ceremonial coronation took place on July 17 at Reims Cathedral. The Dauphin became King Charles VII. Many noble nobles were present at this ceremony, and the Maid of Orleans herself was near the king.
At the end of the ceremonial events, Joan of Arc suggested that Charles VII launch an attack on Paris. But he showed indecisiveness. Therefore, until the spring of 1430, practically no military operations were carried out. Everything was limited to minor military clashes with the British.
Captivity of Joan of Arc
In May, our heroine with a small detachment went to help the city of Compiegne, located in northern France. It was besieged by the Burgundians. Burgundy is a duchy in eastern France, and its inhabitants were allies of the British. They then took the city under siege.
As a result of a military skirmish, Jeanne was captured. The royal troops did not come to her aid, and the Burgundians sold the girl to the British for 10 thousand livres. The prisoner was transported to Rouen (the capital of Normandy), and on February 21, 1431, her trial began.
Joan of Arc's trial and execution
The inquisition process on the Maid of Orleans was led by a bishop Pierre Cauchon(1371-1442). He was an ardent supporter of the British. And although they tried to make the process purely ecclesiastical, it was clear to the child that Zhanna was not tried for crimes against the church, but how enemy of England.
What charges were brought against the girl? The most terrible: intercourse with the Devil and heresy. A total of 6 meetings of the church tribunal took place: February 21, 22, 24, 27 and March 1, 3.
The defendant behaved courageously and indignantly rejected all accusations. She completely refused to admit what the court charged her with. With indomitable conviction, Jeanne claimed to be a messenger of God.
The Inquisition Tribunal asked whether people had kissed her clothes and hands, thereby confirming that they believed in her unusual mission. To this the girl replied that many came and kissed her clothes, since she did not make them feel rejected, but, on the contrary, tried to support them in everything.
The sincerity and deep conviction of our heroine that she was right contributed to the fact that the accusations of intercourse with the Devil and heresy were never proven. But the inquisitors accused her of neglecting the authority of the Church and daring to wear men's clothing. The judges also agreed that the visions that visited the girl did not come from God, but from the Devil.
At the same time, it is surprising that the inquisitors did not torture Jeanne. This was unusual for that time. Any person accused of church crimes was subjected to terrible torture. Men, old people, women and children were tortured in the casemates. However, not a single sadist touched the Maid of Orleans. How can this be explained?
The thing is that this process was purely political in nature. The main prosecutor, Pierre Cauchon, sought first of all to portray the new king of France, Charles VII, in an unsightly light. If it could be proven that he received the crown with the assistance of the Devil's messenger, then the coronation could be declared invalid.
But Jeanne's confession had to be voluntary. At the same time, torture was completely excluded, so that people would not have even the slightest doubt about the sincerity of her testimony. However, the young woman stood firm in her positions and never gave the inquisitors any reason to doubt her sincerity and convinced faith in God.
The tribunal failed to break the will of the proud girl and failed to accuse her of terrible sins and atrocities. The only thing the Inquisition could do was to declare that the accused does not respect the Church, ignores its norms and rules, and also leads people into sin, forcing them to believe that she is a messenger of God.
Pierre Cauchon considered that this was quite enough to impose a death sentence. Joan of Arc was sentenced to be burned alive at the stake. She was denied an appeal to the Pope, although the convicted woman had every right to do so.
On May 30, 1431, the Maid of Orleans was taken to the central square in Rouen. There everything was already ready for the terrible execution. In front of a huge crowd, the condemned woman was taken onto the platform and tied to a post. At the same time, people perfectly saw the Virgin’s face, which seemed absolutely calm.
Burning of the Maid of Orleans at the stake
The executioner put a cap on the girl's head. On it was written in large letters in Latin: “Heretic.” Our heroine turned her head in the direction where Pierre Cauchon was and shouted to him: “Bishop, I am dying by your will. We will definitely meet at God’s judgment!”
According to eyewitnesses, at these words the bishop turned very pale. He hurriedly waved his hand to the executioner and he set fire to the brushwood. The fire reluctantly began to flare up. When he grabbed the girl’s legs, she shouted in a clear and strong voice: “Jesus, I’m coming to you!”
The crowd thronging the square, hearing this phrase, shuddered. Many people cried. Others crossed themselves and read a prayer. Meanwhile, the fire flared brightly, and the Maid of Orleans disappeared in the flames. Thus ended the life of the great Joan of Arc. But history sometimes likes to give surprises. The tragic fate of the Virgin, who saved France, continued 5 years after the execution.
Imposter or risen from the dead
On May 20, 1436, a young woman appeared in the vicinity of the city of Metz in Lorraine. She was dressed in shabby and worn-out clothes, leading an old horse by the bridle, and her head was uncovered. For that era, this was considered a liberty bordering on indecency. In addition, the lady had a short haircut, which made her look like a man. And this was considered a crime by righteous churchmen.
Looking at the stranger, everyone he met understood that the dungeon was crying for her. But she did not pay any attention to passers-by, but walked slowly along the country road. When the city fortress walls loomed in the distance, I turned towards the nearest village. It seemed that the traveler knew the road well.
And indeed, having entered the village, she headed towards the most solid house, standing on a hill. It belonged to Nicolas Louv, a respectable citizen in all respects, who received a knighthood about 5 years ago.
The further course of events will seem incredible to many. The fact is that Nicolas Louv recognized the stranger as Joan of Arc. He provided her with money, gave her a good horse, and the woman went to her brothers. They also recognized the Virgin who was executed 5 years ago.
After that, they all visited the city of Metz together and created a real sensation in it. Residents came running from all over to look at the “resurrected” Maid of Orleans. Jeanne was given battle armor and a magnificent horse. The woman confidently saddled him and made a lap of honor, which caused the delight of the townspeople.
After this, the Virgin went to the city of Arlon, where Duchess Elizabeth of Luxembourg (1390-1451) received her in her castle. She provided the miraculously saved girl with all kinds of assistance, including financial assistance. In her environment, our heroine found herself a groom. It turned out to be the nobleman Robert des Armoises. In October 1436 they celebrated a wedding, and inexplicably the resurrected heroine of France began to be called Jeanne des Armoises.
The amazing thing is that the Duchess saw the real Virgin when she was in captivity. It is not known how well she knew her. It is possible that a high-society person watched the arrested woman from afar, which is quite possible, since they had nothing to talk about.
Having arranged her personal life and received a large sum of money from the duchess, the “resurrected from the dead” Maid of Orleans went to the city of Cologne, where she stayed for some time with Count Ulrich of Württemberg. At the same time, she was given truly royal honors.
For the next 3 years of her life, Jeanne des Armoises lived with her husband and gave birth to 2 sons. But all this time she dreamed of visiting Orleans and corresponded with the city authorities.
The long-awaited trip took place at the end of July 1439. 10 years passed after the liberation of the city, but the residents of Orleans remembered their savior well. In honor of her arrival, a magnificent meeting was held, which brought together all the citizens. The city authorities allocated a huge sum of money to Zhanna, which she accepted with dignity.
On August 23, King Charles VII of France arrived in Orleans, accompanied by Yolanda of Aragon(1379-1443) - mother-in-law of the king. In fact, it was this woman who held all state power in her hands. Yolanda knew the Virgin very well, as she resolved with her all material issues related to military operations.
But history is silent about whether the “resurrected” Jeanne met her patroness. If such an audience had taken place, and the queen, experienced in life’s ups and downs, had recognized the once famous Virgin in the newly minted Des Armoise, then this sensitive issue could be safely put to rest.
However, everything here is covered in darkness. What is known is that our heroine left Orleans on September 4 and went straight to Tours, and after that she visited Poitiers. In this city she met Marshal Gilles de Rais (1404-1440). This was the closest associate of the Maid of Orleans. He knew her perfectly well, which, however, did not save the marshal from a shameful execution at the end of 1440.
Gilles de Rais recognized the woman as a true Virgin. He even allocated a military unit at her disposal. The Hundred Years' War had not yet ended, and Jeanne des Armoises took part in the fighting for some time. But how successfully she commanded - no information has been preserved.
In 1440, our heroine went to Paris. But she didn’t make it to the capital of France. By order of the king, she was arrested and brought before the court of Parliament. She was recognized as an impostor and sentenced to the pillory.
The “pillory” was considered a mild punishment in those distant times. The criminal was taken to the square, and his head and hands were placed in wooden stocks. He remained in this state in front of everyone, subjected to ridicule and insults. Jeanne des Armoises also went through this after she admitted that she was an impostor. Debunked and disgraced, she returned to her husband. He sent her to a madhouse, where the impostor died in 1446.
Questions and riddles
However, it is too early to put an end to this matter, since a number of critical historians consider the parliamentary court not to be objective. He deliberately distorted the facts. This is indicated by the fact that Jeanne was recognized by her associates and close relatives. But then many questions arise. The very first- How did the Virgin manage to avoid death if she was burned in front of many people?
There is a version here that another woman was burned at the stake, and our heroine was taken out of prison through an underground passage. But who brought her out and why? First they tried, and then they saved. There is no logic. In addition, the face of the real Joan, standing on a dais during the execution, was seen by thousands of people.
Second question. Where was the Virgin for 5 years? The impostor never told anyone about this. After all, she could have appeared in the French camp immediately after her rescue, but this did not happen.
Third question. How did it happen that her siblings and all those who knew Zhanna closely unconditionally identified the impostor and recognized her. Have people really become victims of mass psychosis? This is unlikely. This could only be possible if the impostor had an absolute resemblance to our heroine. Oddly enough, there is an explanation for this question.
There is an opinion that her younger sister pretended to be Joan of Arc. Catherine. The girl's fate is unknown. She is believed to have died at an early age. There is also no evidence that Catherine was similar to her older sister.
In principle, it can be assumed that the closest relatives entered into a criminal conspiracy with each other and staged a performance with the unexpected appearance of the Maid of Orleans out of nowhere. But, of course, provided that Catherine had a perfect resemblance to her sister. But appearance alone is not enough. Voice, gait, habits. All this is purely individual, and it is very difficult to deceive people. Moreover, only 5 years have passed. The period is insignificant, and human memory is a rather perfect mechanism. So there is also no clear and precise answer to question 3.
Question four. Could Jeanne be resurrected, since she was God's messenger on earth? Her visions, amazing military abilities. All this points to an unusual gift given from above. So, perhaps, let’s throw away materialistic dogmas and admit the incredible: the Virgin, having violated all the laws of the universe, reappeared in the world of the living.
But then why did she admit to being an impostor at the parliamentary trial? She stood before the Inquisition tribunal with her head held high, but then she gave up and backed down. Most likely, she was a mere mortal, and not the second Phoenix bird to rise from the ashes.
Question five. Could the real Jeanne have given birth to two sons? Nowadays, everyone is well aware of the term “Maurice syndrome”, otherwise it is also called testicular feminization. This is when a woman has a male set of XY chromosomes.
This disease is characterized by a small vagina, absence of the uterus and male testes. In this case, there is no menstrual cycle, and the ability to bear children is absent.
Genetics experts include Queen Elizabeth I of England, who received the nickname “Virgin,” the Swedish Queen Christina, theosophist Blavatsky and our heroine as patients with Maurice syndrome. This is indicated by many signs: physical and mental activity, emotional stability, will, determination. This is all ensured by the very active work of the adrenal glands. They secrete a huge amount of hormones, which are the most powerful doping for the body.
Therefore, our Jeanne des Armoise was indeed an impostor, since she gave birth to two sons, which was impossible for a real Virgin to achieve due to her genetic characteristics.
This is how the Maid of Orleans is represented in Hollywood
So, sad as it may sound, The mystery of Joan of Arc has not been solved these days.. However, there are many other mysteries. It is believed that our heroine was of royal origin, and the whole story with the Virgin was directed by Yolanda of Aragon. She did this for the good of France, in order to awaken passionarity in people and inspire them to fight the British.
At first, by order of the queen, a rumor was started about the imminent coming of the Virgin, and then she herself appeared, which caused an unusual patriotic upsurge among the French. For such a mission, a woman experienced in political intrigue assigned the daughter of Charles VI the Mad and his favorite Odette de Chamdiver - a woman of low birth. Her father was the royal equerry.
The girl from this marriage was called Margarita. She was born in 1407. She acquired military skills at court. Then she was placed in a peasant family, waited for several years, and then she appeared to the people under the guise of a Virgin.
All these are versions and assumptions. The truth is one of the mysteries of history, of which a great many have accumulated throughout the history of mankind.
