Saint Joan of Arc (Jeanne la Pucelle): Difference between revisions
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Pretty much sums up the events at Orléans, although we must take careful note of the role of Joan's standard: it won battles, literally, as Joan testified at Rouen, as “It had shared the pain.”<ref>March 17, Trial of Condemnation (Murray p. 93)</ref> We see the Rouen court take much interest in her battle flag, especially since she bore it at Charles' coronation at Reims, but also because of its depictions of Christ and angels and the ''fleur-de-lis'' of France. The English-backed Rouen court recognized its symbolic power, and so denigrated it by accusing Joan of using it as a demonic charm. | Pretty much sums up the events at Orléans, although we must take careful note of the role of Joan's standard: it won battles, literally, as Joan testified at Rouen, as “It had shared the pain.”<ref>March 17, Trial of Condemnation (Murray p. 93)</ref> We see the Rouen court take much interest in her battle flag, especially since she bore it at Charles' coronation at Reims, but also because of its depictions of Christ and angels and the ''fleur-de-lis'' of France. The English-backed Rouen court recognized its symbolic power, and so denigrated it by accusing Joan of using it as a demonic charm. | ||
Two of the " | Two of the "Seventy Articles" of accusation against Joan referenced her standard. Here from Article XX:<ref>Murray, p. 349. The other accusation, discussed above, was in Article LVIII and focused on the standard as "display and vanity" and neither "religion nor piety" (see Murray, p. 361)</ref> <blockquote>She hath put faith in her ring, in her banner, in certain pieces of linen, and pennons which she carried or caused to be carried by her people, and also in the sword found by revelation, according to her, at Saint Catherine de Fierbois, '''saying that these things were very fortunate'''. She made thereon many '''execrations'''<ref>uttering curses; from ''ex-'' (out) + ''sacrare'' (sacred) for "out of the sacred"</ref> '''and conjurations''', in many and divers places, publicly asserting that by them she would do great things and would obtain victory over her enemies; that to those of her people who carried pennons of this kind '''no ill could happen'''.<ref>thus a heretical charm</ref> [emphasis mine] </blockquote>The reading of the Seventy Articles took two days, and Joan was asked to respond to each. She generally responded, as she did to Article XX, with, <blockquote>I refer to what I have already said.<ref>She was amazing. Articles XXVII, XXVIII, XXIS, and XXX regarded letters she had written, which, apparently, were re-read (?), as the record reads, "What have you to say on these Articles, XXVII, XXVIII, XXIX, XXX, which have been read to you with great care, from the first word to the last?" She hilariously responded, "I refer to what I answered on Article XXVI." To Article XXVI she had responded, "I refer to what I said before." (Murray, p. 351) One hopes that the notary, Massieu, laughed to himself over this one.</ref> </blockquote>Although she did offer larger denials or corrections. Here she added, <blockquote>In all I have done there was never any sorcery or evil arts. As for the good luck of my banner, I refer it to the fortune sent through it by Our Lord. </blockquote>Among offenses, Joan's use of the ''fleur-de-lis'' was especially repugnant to representatives of a pretender to the French throne.[[File:Clovis_recevant_la_fleur_de_lys_-_XVe_siècle.jpg|left|thumb|346x346px|<small>Angel bringing the Golden Lilly to Clovis, from the 15th century Bedford Book of Hours (Wikipedia)</small> ]] | ||
[[File:Blason_pays_fr_France_ancien.svg|alt=Royal arms of France (ancient): Azure semée-de-lis or, as borne by kings of France until 1376, when King w:Charles V reduced the lillies to three (France (modern))|thumb|135x135px|<small>''France ancien'' (Wikipedia)</small>]] | [[File:Blason_pays_fr_France_ancien.svg|alt=Royal arms of France (ancient): Azure semée-de-lis or, as borne by kings of France until 1376, when King w:Charles V reduced the lillies to three (France (modern))|thumb|135x135px|<small>''France ancien'' (Wikipedia)</small>]] | ||
[[File:Blason_France_moderne.svg|alt=Arms of France (modern) (adopted in 1376 by by King Charles V of France): Azure, three fleurs-de-lis or|thumb|136x136px|<small>France Moderne by Charles V, 1376 (Wikipedia)</small>]] | [[File:Blason_France_moderne.svg|alt=Arms of France (modern) (adopted in 1376 by by King Charles V of France): Azure, three fleurs-de-lis or|thumb|136x136px|<small>France Moderne by Charles V, 1376 (Wikipedia)</small>]] | ||
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Horsemanship takes leadership. The animals are keenly sensitive to human emotions and temperament. A truly, but wonderful, apocryphal story of Alexander the Great's management of a wild horse, which became his warhorse, ''Bucephalas,'' stands as testimony to the relationship between horsemanship and leadership. Somehow, Joan had it, too. | Horsemanship takes leadership. The animals are keenly sensitive to human emotions and temperament. A truly, but wonderful, apocryphal story of Alexander the Great's management of a wild horse, which became his warhorse, ''Bucephalas,'' stands as testimony to the relationship between horsemanship and leadership. Somehow, Joan had it, too. | ||
[[File:Andrew Lang The Story of Joan of Arc, 1906 p. 33.jpg|thumb|796x796px|<small>In his 1906 "Young Readers" series book Joan, Andrew Lang tells the story of Joan processing by horseback into Orleans alongside Jean Dunois, the people crowded around Joan, some trying to kiss her hand. A torch lit her banner, which scared her horse. She deftly reigned the horse and crushed the fire with her gloved hand.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/storyofjoanofarc00lang/page/30/mode/2up?view=theater The story of Joan of Arc, the maid of Orleans : Lang, Andrew, 1906 (Archive.org)]; p. 33</ref> Another take on the story is that she wielded the horse to put out the fire with its tail. I like that one better!</small>|center]] | [[File:Andrew Lang The Story of Joan of Arc, 1906 p. 33.jpg|thumb|796x796px|<small>In his 1906 "Young Readers" series book Joan, Andrew Lang tells the story of Joan processing by horseback into Orleans alongside Jean Dunois, the people crowded around Joan, some trying to kiss her hand. A torch lit her banner, which scared her horse. She deftly reigned the horse and crushed the fire with her gloved hand.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/storyofjoanofarc00lang/page/30/mode/2up?view=theater The story of Joan of Arc, the maid of Orleans : Lang, Andrew, 1906 (Archive.org)]; p. 33</ref> Another take on the story is that she wielded the horse to put out the fire with its tail. I like that one better!</small>|center]] | ||
The biographer Murray, summarizes her horsemanship with,<ref>Murray, p. 30</ref><blockquote>Jeanne appears to have been a good horse-woman; she rode “horses so ill tempered that no one would dare to ride them.” The Duke de Lorraine, on her first visit to him, and the Duke d’Alençon, after seeing her skill in riding a course, each gave her a horse; and we read also of a gift of a war-horse from the town of Orleans, and “many horses of value” sent from the Duke of Brittany. She had entered Orleans on a white horse, according to the Journal du Siège d’Orléans; but seems to have been in the habit of riding black chargers in war; and mention is also made by Châtelain of a “lyart” or grey. A story, repeated in a letter from Guy de Laval, | The biographer Murray, summarizes her horsemanship with,<ref>Murray, p. 30</ref><blockquote>Jeanne appears to have been a good horse-woman; she rode “horses so ill tempered that no one would dare to ride them.” The Duke de Lorraine, on her first visit to him, and the Duke d’Alençon, after seeing her skill in riding a course, each gave her a horse; and we read also of a gift of a war-horse from the town of Orleans, and “many horses of value” sent from the Duke of Brittany. She had entered Orleans on a white horse, according to the Journal du Siège d’Orléans; but seems to have been in the habit of riding black chargers in war; and mention is also made by Châtelain of a “lyart” or grey.</blockquote> | ||
Pernoud continues with "A story, repeated in a letter from Guy de Laval," that I will relate from the source, as in the letter to his mother, dated June 8, 1429, de Laval says he saw it happen. He is stunned by the moment as he watches Joan display not just horsemanship, but command of people as well, and holiness:<ref>Letter of Guy de Laval, June 8, 1429, related by M. François Guzot in | |||
[https://archive.org/details/popularhisfrance03guizrich/page/112/mode/2up? A popular history of France; from the earliest times : Guizot, M. (François), 1787-1874 (Archive.org); Vol III], p. 113</ref> | |||
It seems a thing divine to look on her and listen to her. I saw her mount on horseback, armed all in white armor, save her head, and with a little axe in her hand, on a great black charger, which, at the door of her quarters, was very restive, and would not let her mount. Then said she, "Lead him to the cross," which was in front of the neighboring church, on the road. There she mounted him without his moving, and as if he were tied up; and turning towards the door of the church, which was very nigh at hand, she said, in quite a womanly voice, "You, priests and church-men, make procession and prayers to God." Then she resumed her road, saying, "Push forward, push forward." | |||
Having inspired the army through heraldry, faith, and credible soldiery, Joan still needed to exercise practical leadership, which means on the field leading by example. She not only wanted ''á l'arm!'' and now, she wanted to be at the front of the attack: <blockquote>On this day La Hire commanded the vanguard, at which Jeanne was much vexed, for she liked much to have the command of the vanguard<ref>Murray, p. 263</ref> </blockquote>from Murray p. 32:<blockquote>"Which fortress was being attacked when you made your men retire ? " | Having inspired the army through heraldry, faith, and credible soldiery, Joan still needed to exercise practical leadership, which means on the field leading by example. She not only wanted ''á l'arm!'' and now, she wanted to be at the front of the attack: <blockquote>On this day La Hire commanded the vanguard, at which Jeanne was much vexed, for she liked much to have the command of the vanguard<ref>Murray, p. 263</ref> </blockquote>from Murray p. 32:<blockquote>"Which fortress was being attacked when you made your men retire ? " | ||
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" Before the assault, did you not tell your followers that you alone would receive the arrows, cross-bolts, and stones, thrown by the machines and cannons ? " | " Before the assault, did you not tell your followers that you alone would receive the arrows, cross-bolts, and stones, thrown by the machines and cannons ? " | ||
" No ; a hundred and even more of my people were wounded. I had said to them : 'Be fearless, and you will raise the siege.' Then, in the attack on the Bridge fortress, I was wounded in the neck by an arrow or cross-bolt ; ^ but I had great comfort from Saint Catherine, and was cured in less than a fortnight. I did not interrupt for this either my riding or work. I knew quite well that I should be wounded ; I had told the King so, but that, notwithstanding, I should go on with my work. This had been revealed to me by the Voices of my two Saints,^ the blessed Catherine and the blessed Margaret. It was I who first planted a ladder against the fortress of the Bridge, and it was in raising this ladder that I was wounded in the neck by this crossbolt."</blockquote>Strategic and tactical genius<blockquote>It was said that Jeanne was as expert as possible in the art of ordering an army in battle, and that even a captain bred and instructed in war could not have shown more skill; at this the captains marvelled exceedingly<ref>Jeanne D‘arc, by T. Douglas Murray_The Trials_The Project Gutenberg eBook.pdf, p. 297</ref></blockquote>>> artillery | " No ; a hundred and even more of my people were wounded. I had said to them : 'Be fearless, and you will raise the siege.' Then, in the attack on the Bridge fortress, I was wounded in the neck by an arrow or cross-bolt ; ^ but I had great comfort from Saint Catherine, and was cured in less than a fortnight. I did not interrupt for this either my riding or work. I knew quite well that I should be wounded ; I had told the King so, but that, notwithstanding, I should go on with my work. This had been revealed to me by the Voices of my two Saints,^ the blessed Catherine and the blessed Margaret. It was I who first planted a ladder against the fortress of the Bridge, and it was in raising this ladder that I was wounded in the neck by this crossbolt."</blockquote>>>here Strategic and tactical genius<blockquote>It was said that Jeanne was as expert as possible in the art of ordering an army in battle, and that even a captain bred and instructed in war could not have shown more skill; at this the captains marvelled exceedingly<ref>Jeanne D‘arc, by T. Douglas Murray_The Trials_The Project Gutenberg eBook.pdf, p. 297</ref></blockquote>>>here: artillery | ||
We see in the testimony of Sieur de Gaucourt that after the investigation into Joan ordered by the Dauphin, as frustrating as it was for her, as she wanted to get moving right away instead, the inquiries had the effect of ramping up enthusiasm. Joan was not alone in wanting to get moving to "save France." Sieur de Gaucourt recalled,<blockquote>After numerous interrogations, they ended by asking her what sign she could furnish, that her words might be believed? “The sign I have to shew,” she replied, “is to raise the siege of Orleans!” </blockquote>Imagine to hear that from this young girl with her hair shorn, and dressed like a squire. There she is, annoyed and impatient, and there they are, expectant but unsure, defaulting to, essentially, "we don't find anything wrong in her," and she goes straight at it. | We see in the testimony of Sieur de Gaucourt that after the investigation into Joan ordered by the Dauphin, as frustrating as it was for her, as she wanted to get moving right away instead, the inquiries had the effect of ramping up enthusiasm. Joan was not alone in wanting to get moving to "save France." Sieur de Gaucourt recalled,<blockquote>After numerous interrogations, they ended by asking her what sign she could furnish, that her words might be believed? “The sign I have to shew,” she replied, “is to raise the siege of Orleans!” </blockquote>Imagine to hear that from this young girl with her hair shorn, and dressed like a squire. There she is, annoyed and impatient, and there they are, expectant but unsure, defaulting to, essentially, "we don't find anything wrong in her," and she goes straight at it. | ||
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Above all else, it was Joan's piety that astounded and gave foundation to her proclamations. So many of the witnesses at her Trial of Rehabilitation recall her in prayer, including at Vaucouleurs, Chinon and during the campaigns. (She even made it once to a Mass on the way to Chinon, although she wanted to go more). | Above all else, it was Joan's piety that astounded and gave foundation to her proclamations. So many of the witnesses at her Trial of Rehabilitation recall her in prayer, including at Vaucouleurs, Chinon and during the campaigns. (She even made it once to a Mass on the way to Chinon, although she wanted to go more). | ||
On completing their investigation of Joan, which lasted almost a month, the Dauphin's theologians and experts concluded, according to the Dauphin's squire, Gobert Thibault, they were convinced,<ref>Murray, p. 266</ref> <blockquote>I heard the said Lord Confessor and other Doctors say that they believed Jeanne to be sent from God, and that they believed it was she of whom the prophecies spoke; because, seeing her actions, her simplicity, and conduct, they thought the King might be delivered through her; for they had neither found nor perceived aught but good in her, nor could they see anything contrary to the Catholic faith.</blockquote> | On completing their investigation of Joan, which lasted almost a month, the Dauphin's theologians and experts concluded, according to the Dauphin's squire, Gobert Thibault, they were convinced,<ref>Murray, p. 266</ref> <blockquote>I heard the said Lord Confessor and other Doctors say that they believed Jeanne to be sent from God, and that they believed it was she of whom the prophecies spoke; because, seeing her actions, her simplicity, and conduct, they thought the King might be delivered through her; for they had neither found nor perceived aught but good in her, nor could they see anything contrary to the Catholic faith.</blockquote>As she approached Orléans at the head of the army, Joan met with the primary French general at the city, Jean Dunois, the Bastard of Orléans. Dunois had been ordered by the Court to lead Joan's army away from the city and take | ||
== Road to Reims == | == Road to Reims == | ||