Early Life
Joan of Arc, or Jeanne d’Arc in French, was born around January 6, 1412 in Domremy, France. She and her brothers, Jean and Pierre, were peasants, though their father was a more successful farmer. Joan learned to sew, spin, and cook from her mother like most girls in that era. In the summer of 1424, when Joan was twelve or thirteen, she had her first vision which came to h in a dream. It informed her that she had to end the Hundred Years’ War.
The Journey
When she told her father about the dream, he was reluctant to let her go, but he finally gave in and she went off to find Charles VII. Charles actually hid from Joan, maybe as a test, but she went straight towards him. He was impressed with her and took her to a captain in Vaucouleurs to see if her visions were correct. The captain’s name was Robert de Baudricourt. He was not convinced with Joan and even thought that she may be a witch, but the people eventually convinced him to let her help defeat the English. Joan left Vaucouleurs on February 13 while dressed in men’s clothing.
The Maid of Orléans
Joan of Arc was not a commander, but she inspired the other men and did a great deal of help herself while rarely getting injured. She recaptured the towns of Orléans and Reims for Charles VII and led France to victory when she was only seventeen. Joan was captured by the English, however, and charged for her deeds.
Joan's Legacy
Joan had an unfair trial and was charged with witchcraft. She was burned at the stake on May 30, 1431, when she was nineteen. Charles VII, her king, made no effort to protect her or save her in any way. However, on May 16, 1920, Joan was made a saint. Joan of Arc’s legacy still lives on, and in France she is considered a hero.
Different Faces
Joan of Arc has been the subject of many films and books. She has been romanticized and fantasized many times over. I have also found that in all paintings and statues of her, she never looks the same. She has the same basic features, but never the same thing. In some she has blonde hair and in others brown. Sometimes she is tall and sometimes short. Although, in most paintings she is shown with a sword and/or a halo.
But what did the real Joan of Arc look like?
Below is a slideshow of all the portrayals of Joan of Arc. Maybe you can see what I mean.
Works Cited
“Calling of Joan of Arc / De Semant.” Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/109_167025?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=joan+of+arc&localizeMetaData=false>.
The Hundred Years’ War. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. <http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?present=true&tab_layout=top&id=833129>.
“Joan of Arc.” Britannica Online. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online School Edition. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://school.eb.com/all/comptons/article-9275162?query=Joan%20of%20Arc&ct=null>.
“Joan of Arc.” Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/115_2747293?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=joan+of+arc&localizeMetaData=false>.
“Joan of Arc.” Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/115_865814?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=joan+of+arc&localizeMetaData=false>.
“Joan of Arc.” Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/312_1016481?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=joan+of+arc&localizeMetaData=false>.
“Joan of ARC (c1412-1431). - French National Heroine. Joan of Arc in a 15th Century Manuscript Illumination.” Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/140_1664972?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=joan+of+arc&localizeMetaData=false>.
“Joan of Arc (1412-1431).” Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/107_3348476?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=joan+of+arc&localizeMetaData=false>.
“Joan of Arc Interrogated / Woodc.aft.Lix.” Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/109_161395?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=joan+of+arc&localizeMetaData=false>.
“Joan of Arc / Monument in Paris.” Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/109_122904?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=joan+of+arc&localizeMetaData=false>.
“Joan of Arc / Painting / Dyudin.” Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/109_169652?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=joan+of+arc&localizeMetaData=false>.
“Joan of Arc / Pastel by Lenoir / C19th.” Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/109_132816?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=joan+of+arc&localizeMetaData=false>.
“Joan of Arc’s Life- Breif Overview.” Joan of Arc Archive. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2013.
“Saint Joan of Arc.” Britannica Online. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online School Edition. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://school.eb.com/all/eb/article-27051>.
The Hundred Years’ War. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. <http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?present=true&tab_layout=top&id=833129>.
“Joan of Arc.” Britannica Online. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online School Edition. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://school.eb.com/all/comptons/article-9275162?query=Joan%20of%20Arc&ct=null>.
“Joan of Arc.” Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/115_2747293?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=joan+of+arc&localizeMetaData=false>.
“Joan of Arc.” Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/115_865814?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=joan+of+arc&localizeMetaData=false>.
“Joan of Arc.” Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/312_1016481?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=joan+of+arc&localizeMetaData=false>.
“Joan of ARC (c1412-1431). - French National Heroine. Joan of Arc in a 15th Century Manuscript Illumination.” Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/140_1664972?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=joan+of+arc&localizeMetaData=false>.
“Joan of Arc (1412-1431).” Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/107_3348476?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=joan+of+arc&localizeMetaData=false>.
“Joan of Arc Interrogated / Woodc.aft.Lix.” Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/109_161395?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=joan+of+arc&localizeMetaData=false>.
“Joan of Arc / Monument in Paris.” Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/109_122904?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=joan+of+arc&localizeMetaData=false>.
“Joan of Arc / Painting / Dyudin.” Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/109_169652?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=joan+of+arc&localizeMetaData=false>.
“Joan of Arc / Pastel by Lenoir / C19th.” Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/109_132816?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=joan+of+arc&localizeMetaData=false>.
“Joan of Arc’s Life- Breif Overview.” Joan of Arc Archive. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2013.
“Saint Joan of Arc.” Britannica Online. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online School Edition. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://school.eb.com/all/eb/article-27051>.