Saint Joan of Arc (Jeanne la Pucelle): Difference between revisions
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Joan didn't care about palace back stories and generational resentments. She just wanted to win the war. | Joan didn't care about palace back stories and generational resentments. She just wanted to win the war. | ||
Historians have recognized this aspect of Joan's influence upon events, especially in the re-militarization of France under de Richemont after he expelled de La Trémoïlle from the French court. Arriving with his soldiers to Jargeau was his first ploy to regain power as Constable of France. By welcoming him, and forcing the general, d'Alençons, to accept his presence, it was Joan who put into place the dynamics that would lead to the reconciliation of Burgundy with France four years after her death. Yet long before the final defeat of the English, it was a key turning point, if not as important as Orléans and the crowning of Charles at Reims, the contingent events that allowed all the rest to happen. | |||
Historians have recognized this aspect of Joan's influence upon events, especially in the re-militarization of France under de Richemont after he expelled de La Trémoïlle from the French court. Arriving with his soldiers to Jargeau was his first ploy to regain power as Constable of France. By welcoming him, and forcing the general, d'Alençons, to accept his presence, it was Joan who put into place the dynamics that would lead to the reconciliation of Burgundy with France four years after her death. Yet long before the final defeat of the English, it was a key turning point, if not as important as Orléans and the crowning of Charles at Reims, the contingent events that allowed all the rest to happen. | |||
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At the French court, de Richemont, who was recruited by de La Trémoïlle, helped de La Trémoïlle to oust and replace the top court minister, Pierre de Giac.<ref>See [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Georges-de-La-Tremoille?utm_source=chatgpt.com Georges de La Trémoille | Military Commander, Courtier, Diplomat | Britannica] which states that after kidnapping and drowning Giac, La Trémoïlle married the guy's widow.</ref> But things fell apart for de Richemont in 1427 when de La Trémoïlle turned on him, in part because of his volatile personality, and mostly because de Richemont's brother had been forced by battle into signing a truce with the English. The alignment switch was seen by the French as a unforgiveable betrayal, and thus the the severe animosity against them. After his return to the French cause alongside Joan of Arc, de Richemont maneuvered himself back into the good graces of Charles VII, and took revenge upon de La Trémoïlle, kidnapping and ransoming him for money and a pledge to stay out of the French Court. Amidst the oscillating alliances and defections stood Phlip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. Burgundy knew these characters well, and so after Joan's death, the Duke offered de Richemont lands that belonged to de La Trémoïlle in exchange for his loyalty, | At the French court, de Richemont, who was recruited by de La Trémoïlle, helped de La Trémoïlle to oust and replace the top court minister, Pierre de Giac.<ref>See [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Georges-de-La-Tremoille?utm_source=chatgpt.com Georges de La Trémoille | Military Commander, Courtier, Diplomat | Britannica] which states that after kidnapping and drowning Giac, La Trémoïlle married the guy's widow.</ref> But things fell apart for de Richemont in 1427 when de La Trémoïlle turned on him, in part because of his volatile personality, and mostly because de Richemont's brother had been forced by battle into signing a truce with the English. The alignment switch was seen by the French as a unforgiveable betrayal, and thus the the severe animosity against them. After his return to the French cause alongside Joan of Arc, de Richemont maneuvered himself back into the good graces of Charles VII, and took revenge upon de La Trémoïlle, kidnapping and ransoming him for money and a pledge to stay out of the French Court. Amidst the oscillating alliances and defections stood Phlip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. Burgundy knew these characters well, and so after Joan's death, the Duke offered de Richemont lands that belonged to de La Trémoïlle in exchange for his loyalty, | ||
Or | Or perhaps La Trémoïlle and the Archbishop Regnaud de Chartres didn't deliberately abandon Joan and were instead merely practicing standard statecraft. Negotiation was as much a part of Medieval warfare as swords and crossbows. For example, after the English victory at the "Battle of Herrings" during the siege of Orléans, the city's leadership appealed to the Duke of Burgundy to submit itself to him in order to secure the city's neutrality in exchange for relief from the English. Understanding that the Duke of Orléans was being held in England, that Orléans was the center of Armagnac resistance to the Burgundians. The Armagnac movement was named for the the Count of Armagnac, the father-in-law of Louis I, the Duke of Orléans whom John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy, murdered in 1407. Any questions as to the desperation felt in Orléans (which has been questioned by historians) should be replaced by wonder at the desperation of the city in offering to surrender to the son of the Duke of Burgundy who had murdered the father of the current Duke of Orléans. Burgundy, of course, was all for it, but the idea was vetoed by the larger Duke, the Englishman Bedford, who smelled victory over France, and who crowed,<ref>Pernoud, Her Story, p. 13</ref> | ||
<blockquote>I would be mighty angry to cut down the bushes so that someone else could get the little birds from the branches!</blockquote> | <blockquote>I would be mighty angry to cut down the bushes so that someone else could get the little birds from the branches!</blockquote> | ||
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The French ministers, instead, made it altogether too easy for the Duke, seducing him with "greater offers of reparation<ref>i.e., for the murder of John the Fearless</ref> than the royal majesty actually possessed,"<ref>https://archive.org/details/joanofarcherstor00pern/page/74/mode/1up?q=220&view=theaterd p. 74</ref> including to yield the town of Compèigne, which a year later continued to hold out against the Burgundians, although at the expense of Joan's capture and her ransom to the English. | The French ministers, instead, made it altogether too easy for the Duke, seducing him with "greater offers of reparation<ref>i.e., for the murder of John the Fearless</ref> than the royal majesty actually possessed,"<ref>https://archive.org/details/joanofarcherstor00pern/page/74/mode/1up?q=220&view=theaterd p. 74</ref> including to yield the town of Compèigne, which a year later continued to hold out against the Burgundians, although at the expense of Joan's capture and her ransom to the English. | ||
During a lull in the lulls, and at Joan's insistence, the Duke of Alençon was finally allowed to organize an attack on Paris, coming on September 8, the Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God. Joan was at the front. After an all-day assault that induced both panic and expectant enthusiasm within the city, as sundown fell and by the walls, Joan was struck in the thigh by a crossbow bolt. She called for a continued assault, but the nightfall and shock at her injury dissuaded her troops, who carried her out of a ditch back to the French camp.<ref> | During a lull in the lulls, and at Joan's insistence, the Duke of Alençon was finally allowed to organize an attack on Paris, coming on September 8, the Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God. Joan was at the front. After an all-day assault that induced both panic and expectant enthusiasm within the city, as sundown fell and by the walls, Joan was struck in the thigh by a crossbow bolt. She called for a continued assault, but the nightfall and shock at her injury dissuaded her troops, who carried her out of a ditch back to the French camp.<ref>There is much to be said for Divine protection of Joan in her injuries, here at Paris and at Orléans. While missing vital organs, Joan's wounds were serious and susceptible to infection, etc. She recovered from them all. </ref> The next day the King halted the attacks, and on the 13th ordered a retreat back to the Loire, which meant back to Orléans. | ||
Before leaving St. Denis, where Charles VII had resided during the campaign that, thanks to his indecision, hesitation and indirection, truly lacked luster, Joan presented her complete set of white armor and a seized sword to the altar at the church of Saint Denis, a traditional act of thanks giving by a wounded soldier.<ref>See [https://ia800200.us.archive.org/6/items/joanofarc00moon/joanofarc00moon.pdf Joan of Arc] p. 49</ref> After the King left Saint Denis to the English, they took Joan's armor and likely destroyed it. From there, the usual story is the the King abandoned Joan, while allowing her limited, unsupported military campaigns, which is true. For her part, Joan "feared nothing but treason."<ref>See Joan: Her Story p. 78</ref> | Before leaving St. Denis, where Charles VII had resided during the campaign that, thanks to his indecision, hesitation and indirection, truly lacked luster, Joan presented her complete set of white armor and a seized sword to the altar at the church of Saint Denis, a traditional act of thanks giving by a wounded soldier.<ref>See [https://ia800200.us.archive.org/6/items/joanofarc00moon/joanofarc00moon.pdf Joan of Arc] p. 49</ref> After the King left Saint Denis to the English, they took Joan's armor and likely destroyed it. From there, the usual story is the the King abandoned Joan, while allowing her limited, unsupported military campaigns, which is true. For her part, Joan "feared nothing but treason."<ref>See Joan: Her Story p. 78</ref> | ||
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Charles VII was not entirely deceived. But he was duplicitous with Joan. He feted her, brought her from castle to castle, but ignored her pleas to carry on the war. Her opportunity came when the need arose to put down continued Burgundian resistance<ref>Either lands of or invaded by a Burgundian mercenary named Perrinet Gressard.</ref> within the Loire region itself, at a town called Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier. Sent officially by the Court, Joan took the fortified town, protected by a moat, on Nov 4, 1429, but only after insisting upon a second assault and standing at foot of the walls inspiring her troops forward.<ref>Afterwards, Charles ennobled here and her family, both men and women.</ref> | Charles VII was not entirely deceived. But he was duplicitous with Joan. He feted her, brought her from castle to castle, but ignored her pleas to carry on the war. Her opportunity came when the need arose to put down continued Burgundian resistance<ref>Either lands of or invaded by a Burgundian mercenary named Perrinet Gressard.</ref> within the Loire region itself, at a town called Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier. Sent officially by the Court, Joan took the fortified town, protected by a moat, on Nov 4, 1429, but only after insisting upon a second assault and standing at foot of the walls inspiring her troops forward.<ref>Afterwards, Charles ennobled here and her family, both men and women.</ref> | ||
The | The French Court ordered her to attack another town in the region, La Charité, which was also fortified, but she was denied additional artillery or funds. Joan was forced to raise her own army for the attack, which was unsuccessful, her first defeat after Paris. The defeat gave the Court further excuse to ignore her and to adhere to the supposed truce with the Duke of Burgundy. Joan's next action was to move north to defend areas that Burgundy had attacked, despite the truce. That Joan knew it was going on means the Court knew it, but the Court deliberately ignored it under the guise of the truce. Whether or not Joan acted with the Court's authority, over which historians have argued uselessly, doesn't matter: they knew, she knew, they all knew the Duke of Burgundy was in violation of the truce. That Joan acted on her own authority or the Kings doesn't matter. What matters is that she went to defend Compiègne, which was under Burgundian and English attack, with few resources and a small force. There Joan was captured, but, as always, standing fast amidst battle, only this time there was no rallying the troops, as they had gone into the city and the gate was closed on her as the Burgundians surrounded her and pulled her from her horse. | ||
La Charité became a matter of great attention at the Rouen trial. Questions on it included, <blockquote>Did you never speak with the said Catherine<ref>As discussed earlier, the examiners were most keen to associate Joan with Catherine de la Rochelle and her visions of a "lady in white." (see Murray, p. 52)</ref> on the project of going to La Charité-sur-Loire?<ref>March 3 (Murray, p. 53)</ref></blockquote><blockquote>What did you do in the trenches of La Charité?<ref>ibid</ref></blockquote><blockquote>Why did you not enter La Charité, if you had command from God to do so?<ref>March 3 (Murray, p. 54)</ref></blockquote><blockquote>Had you any revelation to attack La Charité?<ref>March 13 (Murray, p. 69)</ref></blockquote><blockquote>Did you do well or ill to advance on La Charité?<ref>March 27 (Murray, p. 352)</ref> </blockquote> | |||
La Charité | The point was that Joan had failed to take the city, and, as with her failed assault on Paris, she was thereby a false prophet. Article LVII of the Seventy Articles of accusation attacked her on this point:<ref>March 27 (Murray p. 360-361)</ref><blockquote>The day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, Jeanne did assemble the whole army of Charles, to make an attack on the city of Paris ; she did lead the army against the city, affirming that she would enter it on that day — that she knew it by revelation : she directed all the arrangements possible for the entry. And, nevertheless, she is not afraid to deny it before us here in court. And at other places also, at La Charité-sur-Loire, for example, at Pont L'Evêque, at Compiègne, when she attacked the army of the Duke of Burgundy, she affirmed and foretold that which, according to her, would take place, saying that she knew it by revelation : now, not only did the things predicted by her not come to pass, but the very contrary happened. Before you she hath denied having made these predictions, because they were not realized, as she had said ; but many people worthy of trust report ^ to have heard her utter them. At the time of the assault on Paris, she said that thousands of angels were around her, ready to bear her to Paradise if she should be killed : now, when she was asked why, after the promises made to her, not only did she not enter Paris but that many of her men and she herself had been wounded in a horrible manner and some even killed, she answered " It was Jesus, who broke His word to me.</blockquote><blockquote>What have you to say to this Article</blockquote><blockquote>As to the beginning, I have answered it already. If I think of more later, I will willingly answer then. I never said that Jesus had failed me.</blockquote> | ||
The operations against Charité, Paris, and others such as Compiegne, where Joan was captured by the Burgundians, were unsuccessful. Joan assured fellow commanders about various actions, such as at Saint Pierre le Moustier, which she took prior to her assault on Charité. Of the former city, she told her steward, Jean d'Aulen,<ref name=":9" /><blockquote>she would not leave until she had taken the town.</blockquote>She did, but she subsequently failed to take Charité, which, d'Aulen, said, was from lack of support from the crown:<ref name=":10" /><blockquote>Moreover, that, some time after the return from the consecration of the King, he [the King] was advised by his Council — then at Mehun-sur-Yèvre — that it was most necessary to recover the town of La Charité, which was held by the enemy; but that first must be taken the town of Saint Pierre le Moustier, which likewise was held by the enemy ;</blockquote>Joan admitted the failure to the Rouen court: <blockquote>At the request of the men-at-arms, there was an assault made before Paris, and, at the request of the King himself, one also before La Charité. These were neither against nor by the order of my Voices.<ref name=":11" /></blockquote>>> here | |||
The | The deception of the examiners shows here, as Joan's assault on Paris preceded the others. In the truce agreed upon just after the July 17 coronation, the Duke of Burgundy agreed to surrender Paris to Armagnac control. He lied, of course, so Charles had to make a show of force. But that's all he wanted. | ||
>> here | |||
When he called off the attack on Paris and ordered a bridge dismantled that Joan would need to renew the assault -- rather indicative of their relationship, whereby he needed not her obedience, which he had, but a reason for the order. Most deceitful; but it worked. Paris was left alone, and Charles disbanded the army, again leaving Joan without the means to pursue her agenda. Charles lacked the political will to cut her off completely, so played for and against her by allowing her to run her own campaigns without official backing, especially financially. She ended up chasing down rogue cities along the Loire, and then, eventually, to rescue besieged Armagnac cities to the norther, such as Compeigne, where, with a small contingent and entirely on her own as a commander. she was captured by the Burgundians. | |||
Well informed by their spies and informants in France, the Rouen court knew all this. But they spun it to delegitimize Orléans and Reims, by associating those victories with her subsequent failures. | Well informed by their spies and informants in France, the Rouen court knew all this. But they spun it to delegitimize Orléans and Reims, by associating those victories with her subsequent failures. | ||
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<blockquote>It is well done to observe the Festival of the Blessed Mary, and on my conscience it seems to me that it was, and ever will be, well to observe these festivals, from one end to the other.</blockquote><blockquote>Did you not say before Paris, "Surrender this town by order of Jesus?"</blockquote> | <blockquote>It is well done to observe the Festival of the Blessed Mary, and on my conscience it seems to me that it was, and ever will be, well to observe these festivals, from one end to the other.</blockquote><blockquote>Did you not say before Paris, "Surrender this town by order of Jesus?"</blockquote> | ||
<blockquote>'* No, but I said, 'Surrender it to the King of France.'"</blockquote> | <blockquote>'* No, but I said, 'Surrender it to the King of France.'"</blockquote>Ultimately, there's no need to bother with the whys and hows of Joan's betrayal. God allowed it, and the Saints Margaret and Catherine told her it was coming <<quote >> here | ||
What matters is that for whatever means, under whatever influence or motive, Charles VII never received the angelic crown Joan had prophesized. He rushed into agreements and truces of no substance, prolonging the war and abandoning Joan to her martyrdom. But what Joan had launched was unstoppable. | |||
While undermined by the French court in her continued war against the English and the Burgundians, Joan was right. After her death in 1431, her compatriot warriors, the Duc d'Alençon, La Hire<ref>He was captured by the Burgundians in 1430 but escaped or was ransomed soon after.</ref>, Jean Dunois and, of course, Artur de Richemont,<ref>His efforts were complicated by alliances of his brother, the Duke of Brittany, that at one point in the 1430s required de Richemont to fight briefly alongside the English.</ref> carried on the fight, raiding northern France, liberating towns, raising alarms, and menacing English and Burgundian holds. The raids challenged the alliance and opened the opportunity for the Congress of Arras that realigned the Burgundians to the French, and which was engineered by de Richemont himself. Absent the pressure of warfare that Joan brought on, there was no need for the English and the Burgundians to enter into the Congress of Arras in the first place. | |||
== Saint or Servant of France? == | == Saint or Servant of France? == | ||