Libaax-Sankataabte Posted March 7, 2003 It was cool reading how the English tried to justify their defeat by an army lead by a teenage girl. The Europeans were actually more barbarian that you actually know. The Africans are going through that stage now. Boy, no wonder why the French and the British really hate each other. ------------------ Joan of Arc was born in 1412 in the village of Domremy in North Eastern France. Her parents were peasants, and Joan never attended school. Like all children of the working classes in those days, she helped with chores from an early age. She was deeply religious and spent hours praying in the church. From a young age she claimed to hear the voices of St Michael (the Archangel) and two saints, St. Catherine and St. Margaret. When Joan was born, England and France had been at war for about 100 years. The details of the war are extremely confusing, but the relevant part is that they were, at that time, fighting over who should be King of France. The English had won lands in North Western France. Henry V was King of England and Charles VI was King of France. All French Kings were crowned in Reims, a city in the Northern part of France controlled by the English. After the English won the land they signed a treaty with France. The agreement was that Charles could remain King of France, but that when he died, Henry would rule. Unfortunately Charles and Henry both died within a very short time of each other. Charles had a son, (also named Charles, later known as Charles VII). Henry also had a son (later known as Henry VI) whom the English claimed should be King of France due to the agreement between the two countries. When his father died, Charles, at that time known as the Dauphin, quickly claimed the throne for himself. The French people refused to accept that he was King until he had been crowned in Reims. The English were determined that would never happen, and started trying to take even more French land. The Duke of Burgundy, a French Duke, was helping the English. He wanted to eventually take the crown for himself, or at least gain more land. With no King in charge, the French were losing and it looked fairly certain that they would eventually control all of France. Into this stepped Joan. The voices, which until then had given her only general guidance, began telling her she must save France from the English. She was instructed to go to the leader of the French Army, telling him she could lead France to victory and have Charles crowned. She was seventeen years old at the time. With the help of a local baron, she found her way to Charles. She managed to persuade him that she truly heard voices, and that God would help her get him crowned. Although it is unclear why Charles believed her, legend has it she told him things that only he could have known. Charles was convinced that Joan and the voices were genuine, and he agreed to give her a small army. He also gave her a suit of white armor and a sword. The English had recently captured Orleans, a city about 80 miles from Paris. This is where Joan started her mission. She led her small army against the English, and was wounded. Her men, seeing her bravery and determination to fight on, were inspired. They retook the city of Orleans for France. Joan became known as the maid of Orleans. The French rallied behind Joan and supported her. With their help she won several more battles. The English were losing ground quickly, and Reims once again belonged to the French. Charles could now be crowned King of France. Joan and her Army escorted him to the cathedral in Reims, where he was crowned, in July 1429. Once he was crowned Charles decided that he ought to negotiate with the English and the Duke of Burgundy. Joan and her voices, however, had different ideas. She was determined to fight on and rid France of the English forever. Joan continued to fight but began to lose battles. She was captured by the troops of the Duke of Burgundy in 1430, at the Battle of Compeigne. The Duke sold her to the English. The English could not admit that a teenage girl had beaten them in battle. They needed to prove that she had used trickery, sorcery and witchcraft to do it. She was imprisoned in a dungeon and tortured. The English wanted her to admit that she had lied about the voices. They also wanted her to agree to remove the men’s clothing, which they said was against the Churches ruling. Joan refused and remained in prison. Charles no longer had any interest in Joan, she had given him what he wanted, the French crown. Now she was just a nuisance and an obstacle to him negotiating with the English. He made no attempt to rescue her or buy her back from the English. Joan remained in prison, growing weaker and more tired daily. She finally agreed to remove the soldiers clothing and signed a statement that she had been wrong. In return she was supposed to be allowed to visit the church. The English had lied. Remember that she could neither read nor write. She probably had no idea what it was that she was admitting to. She again insisted that the voices had been real, and put her soldiers clothing back on. They now had the proof they needed to have her tried and convicted of heresy and witchcraft. She was tried, convicted and sentenced to death. Because she was found guilty of being a witch, she was to be executed by fire. She was 19 years old. On May 30, 1431 she was burned at the stake. Charles did nothing to save her, and neither did the French people, who only shortly before had claimed she was a heroine. After her death Charles decided that it wasn’t a good idea for people to believe she had been a witch or heretic. That would mean that he had been wrongfully crowned. He set about having her name cleared. Thirty years after her death the Pope claimed she had been wrongly accused and that she was not guilty of any crime against the Church or God. She was eventually canonized in 1920, becoming St Joan. The church never stated whether or not her visions and the voices she heard were real. She was made a Saint because she was convinced that God had ordered her to do what she did, and she followed those orders. Her absolute faith in God and obedience of what she believed were His instructions are what made her a saint. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blessed Posted March 7, 2003 Interesting Mr Libaax. That was a nice article. I don't know to what extent I buy into idea of hearing "voices", she was either a Schitzo or did't recognise her own thoughts. May she just complimented the dude.. what ever the case.. she has my respects. I've always had a suspicion on the rumoures they made about the Somali Araweelo. I doubt that any woman is mean enough to castrate men. But I suppose the 'farax's' had to have a very good case for being ruled by a woman. Just like the Brits couldn't handle being beaten by a woman. Oh the shame of it all Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ariadne Posted March 7, 2003 Her names was Jeanne D'Arc. She became known as Joan of Arc because English people can't pronounce . Charles the King of France at that time was called Le Dauphin (french for the pretender). The story of Joan is more so explained in the play St Joan by George Bernard Shaw (based on facts and historical events). Why are people always so astonished when they hear of a warlike female or a female in power at any time in history. NEWSFLASH: all females are not "house wife" material. Arweelo and women like her were not a rarity they existed almost everywhere (people have to learn to dig beneath the surface). For example the story of Trieu this trinh who lived from 222-248 (my signature is one of her quotes ): Trieu Thi Trinh was an orphan who lived around 200 A.D. Thousands of years ago, Vietnamese orphan Trieu had left home as a teenager, raised an army and established her own independent territory in the hills. She would lead her army into combat dressed in golden armor, with a drawn sword in each hand, riding on an elephant. She won over 30 battles against the Chinese before killing herself rather than surrendering to the Chinese . All by her early 20s. Pretty damn amazing huh . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted March 8, 2003 so thats what the film thats constently on sky movies is all about!lol, i just see the title and turnover! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites