Joan of Arc

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About six hundred years ago in Europe, the French and the English were fighting for the French throne. Charles VII, the dauphin, was fighting against Henry VI, the King of England (Clin, 3). This war, later known as the Hundred Years’ War, took place during the 15th century. Joan of Arc, a peasant girl from Domrémy, joined the side of the dauphin after voices that she claimed came from saints, instructed her to help (Schmalz). Her influence brought about the end of the siege on Orléans and the coronation of King Charles. Joan was able to rally the French forces and turn the momentum of the entire war around (Clin, 3). Despite being a woman in a time when females were subjugate to males, Joan of Arc was the most influential warrior in the Hundred Years’ War because her leading role in the break of the siege on Orléans, the crowning of the king and her symbolic significance for France were major turning points in the war. The break of the siege on Orléans was due largely to Joan’s involvement and it was her first great triumph. The fate of France rested on Orléans, as it was the key to gaining control of the rest of the country. In 1429, the Duke of Bedford, an Englishman, had laid siege to Orléans and was preparing the way to attack the dauphin at Bourges. The scales were about to tip in favor of the English when Joan first entered the records (Clin, 3). Joan said that as a young child she had desired for her king to have his kingdom but she only took up arms to fight once the saints instructed her to do so (Halsall). Many of the French captains were hesitant to follow a peasant and a girl but her plans always seemed to work (Schmalz). Joan proposed the idea of collapsing one of the arches on the bridge to isolate the English fortr... ... middle of paper ... ...belonging to men” and “performing many things against the Catholic faith.” (Halsall). Joan was burned at the stake on May 30, 1431 after the English court found her guilty of witchcraft and heresy (Schmalz). 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.

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