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Women of medieval times
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Calling and Charisma: The Life and Mission of Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc overcame incredible challenges in the name of God and her country. Her military prowess both frustrated the English and endeared her to the French people. Although the accomplishments of Joan are well documented, the truth behind her success and her motivations for leaving home remain a mystery to this day. Joan claimed that she was called by God to free her country, but some doubted the truth of her statement. It is difficult to determine Joan’s true motivations for becoming a soldier, but regardless of her motives, she was an important factor in France’s fight for freedom and the story of her life and death made her one of the most interesting warriors in medieval history.
Joan of Arc was born in the village of Domremy, France, around the year 1412 (Taylor 1-2). Even from an early age, it was obvious that Joan was an unusual child. Although she helped her family with the daily chores, such as spinning, sewing, and field work (8), she spent her play time in a curious way. When she was not working at home, she was often at the church; in fact, Joan loved attending church so much that she often spent more time at church than she did playing with children her own age (14). Despite her obvious piety, Joan was very headstrong and occasionally deceptive. For example, she sometimes lied to her parents about her whereabouts so she could attend church more often (15). Joan’s fiery attitude and religious devotion later proved to be important factors in her development as a leader in France’s fight for freedom.
Joan was always surrounded by warfare, even as a child. Domremy was caught in a seemingly endless string of skirmishes and raids (Taylor 2), but in the late 14...
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...dual interpretation. Yet despite the uncertainty of Joan’s reasons for fighting, the fact remains that Joan believed in the justness of her cause, and her faith and bravery made her into a legendary warrior who is revered even today as one of France’s most famous and beloved heroes.
“Medieval Sourcebook: Joan of Arc: Letter to the King of England, 1429.” Trans. Belle Tuten. Fordham.edu. Fordham University, 4 Nov. 2011. Web. 7 April. 2014.
Edgar, Robert R., et al. “Chapter Fifteen.” Civilizations Past and Present. 12th ed. Ed. Janet Lanphier, et al. Vol. 1. New York: Pearson, 2008. Print.
Keifer, James. “Joan of Arc, Visionary.” Rowan University. Rowan University, n.d. Web. 8 April. 2014. http://elvis.rowan.edu/~kilroy/JEK/query.cgi?5+30
Taylor, Larissa Juliet. Virgin Warrior: The Life and Death of Joan of Arc. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2009. E-book.
Coffin, Judith G., and Robert C. Stacey. "CHAPTER 18 PAGES 668-669." Western Civilizations: Their History & Their Culture. 16TH ed. Vol. 2. New York, NY: W. W. Norton &, 2008. N. pag. Print.
One day, she heard the voices of three saints: Michael Margaret, and Catherine, who told her how to save France. Joan immediately went out and informed the people of France of her mission. However, many people ignored her and her claims. Though, after Joan correctly predicted the outcome of many battles, she was recruited for her “tactical ability,” because they didn’t know that her predictions came from the saints. In April 1429, Joan convinced the dauphin to give her military assistance to attempt to free Orleans from the English. She led the army into the battle wearing a suit of white armor while holding a banner that showed the Trinity and the stated "Jesus, Maria." She won the day and freed Orleans as well as capture surrounding English
In sixteenth century France, women were not independent and treated as equals as they are today. Women didn’t have much of or any identity of their own apart from their husbands, let alone any importance outside of their household duties; meaning, women didn’t have a voice within the home or publicly. Bertrande’s decision to go publicly to trail with the accusations of Arnaud being an impostor was a huge deal to the rest of the family; all of Martin’s family except for his uncle believed Arnaud was none other than Martin Guerre. This was pressure for Bertrande, to no longer go forward with the accusations against Arnaud. Determined, independent, honourable and brave were all qualities that Bertrande had shown through the actions she had taken to fight what she believed was the truth in the process of pursing the impostor. Bertrande proved women could stand up for themselves and not just stand behind their...
However, in 1425, the French were able to stop a siege on Mont St. Michael, as hope for winning the war and gossip among the town grew once more. A few months later, Joan began to hear a voice call her from her father’s garden, which she later claimed to be the voice of France’s patron saint, St. Michael. Her voices or revelations become more specific and urgent as more and more towns were conquered by the Burgundians and the English, while Joan become more distant and absent to her family friends to talk with her voices, and soon, it became apparent to Joan that God has given her a mission to save the exiled prince and France, although, with low-confidence with her peasant stature, her voices gave her the confidence and help to pursue the mission. Her father, oblivious to Joan’s revelations, dreams that she’ll join the army, which meant that she’ll be a camp follower, and so, he demanded her brothers to drown her if she did or he’ll do it himself as he and her mother kept a closer eye on her. Despite her parent’s worry and fear, Joan persisted in completing her mission as she made preparations to visit her her first cousin near Vaucouleurs in December to take care of the baby when in actuality, Joan was planning to go to Vaucouleurs, a town loyal to the French, to get help
B. Joan of Arc women, but have you ever read about a female general who led her troops against the enem and won? There are not many of them, and in medieval Europe there was only one loan of Arc, who was she? And how did it happen that a young girl who never learned to read and write became a general? At that time there were many wars between England and France to decide who should rule France. In i428 the English had almost won and there seemed to be no hope for the French. Then something strange happened. A 17-year-old girl came to the French King Charles VII and told him that she had been sent by God to drive the English out of France and to see him crowned. The girl was loan of Arc Joan of Arc is one of the most romantic figures
Joan of Arc -Joan of Arc was a peasant girl living in Medieval France. She believed that God had chosen her to lead France to victory against England because she had visions, she was soon captured by Anglo Burgundian forces and tried for witchcraft and heresy and burned at the stake.
Joan of Arc’s images all over the world breed symbols of patriotism, linked with French nationalism, fresh youth, and fair sex. She inspired hundreds of works of art, from plaster casts to re...
In 1455 Joan’s family asked for another trial to reconsider Joan’s charges and a year later she was announced innocent (Schmalz). In 1920, Joan was canonized as a saint (“Joan of Arc”). Joan’s many contributions have made a huge impact on our history. It is impossible to know what the western world would be like today without Joan’s immense influence during the Hundred Years’ War. Even though she was a woman and acted in a different position than tradition dictated, Joan of Arc impacted the Hundred Years’ War immensely, influencing significant strategic wins more than any other warrior, and turning the tide of the war from an English victory to a French triumph.
“Not, perhaps, the patroness of France; rather, the patroness of vivid life, prized not for military victories but for the gift of passionate action taken against ridiculous odds, for the grace of holding nothing back.” (Gordon 173). This quote is referring to Joan of Arc. Joan of Arc was very religious; known for seeing visions and voices from God telling her to go deep into France and help with the war, which she did. At the age of eighteen Joan of Arc led French armies through a series of battles and each of these battles resulted in a victory. Many people, especially men, were threatened by her because of the fact that she was able to do things like leading armies when she was both a girl and a teenager and because she was able to see visions
Coffin, Judith G, et al. Western Civilizations: Their History & Their Culture. 17th ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Co, 2011. Print.
Sherman, D. (2000). Civilizations of the Ancient World. Western Civilizations: Sources, Images, and Interpretations (pp. 8-12). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Joan lived during a turbulent time in French history. The French and English states had been at war since 1337 over disputed territories in France and who could inherit the French throne. The English claimed that their king could inherit the French throne through shared royal bloodlines and also inherit vast territories in present-day southwestern France. By the time of Joan’s birth, the English had secured almost all of France and were poised to capture the French crown. The French heir to the throne, the Dauphin, was forced into hiding and Paris was under English control. It was under these dire circumstances that Joan emerged.
The fifteenth century was a gruesome era in world history. Church and state were not separated which caused many problems because the Church officials were often corrupt. The story of Joan of Arc, portrayed by George Bernard Shaw, impeccably reflects the Church of the 1400’s. Joan, a French native, fought for her country and won many battles against England. But Joan’s imminent demise came knocking at her door when she was captured by the English. She was charged with heresy because the armor she wore was deemed for men only but she justified her actions by stating that God told her to do it. Today, Joan of Arc would be diagnosed schizophrenic because of the voices in her head but she would still be respected for serving in the military. But in the fifteenth century, she was labeled as nothing more than a deviant. She was tried and the Inquisitor characterized her as a beast that will harm society. Through his sophistic reasoning, loaded diction, and appeals to pathos and ethos, the Inquisitor coaxed the court into believing Joan was a threat to society and she had to pay the ultimate price.
Joan of Arc's strength and courage comes from her beliefs in God and the French people's belief in her. Without each other, Joan will not accomplish so much. Joan uses King Charles' resources as a starting point for her Divine mission. This includes crowning Charles as the rightful king of France, forcing the Burgundians out of France, and uniting all of France under one ruler. Therefore, Joan's whole mission revolves around King Charles, and as a result, she needs his encouragement in order to succeed. King Charles does provide this encouragement in the beginning of Joan's mission. However, after Joan succeeds in putting Charles on the throne, he abandons her. The reasons Charles abandons Joan are debatable and can be seen as political decisions to save face, because Joan's power and influence starts to die down. The Church also plays a vital role in Charles abandoning Joan, because the influence of the Church is so powerful in deciding the destiny of France and the King.
Cole, Joshua, Judith G. Coffin, Carol Symes, and Robert Stacey. Western Civilizations: Their History & Their Culture. Brief Third ed. Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2012. Print.