Saint Joan of Arc timeline

La Vie de Jeanne d'Arc from the Panthéon, Paris, France (Wikimedia Commons)

Timeline of the Saint Joan of Arc

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Summary of Joan's life

• Born in January 1412 in a rural village in northeastern France called Domrėmy
• The ongoing Hundred Years War has been in a lull but will get busy in 1415
• However, animosity has grown between the French Houses of Burgundy and d'Orlėans, whose followers are called the "Armagnacs"
• In 1415, the English under Henry V launches an invasion of northern France, winning a significant victory at the Battle of Agincourt in October 1415
  • France loses some 40% of its nobility at the battle, including the capture of the Duke d'Orlėans,
  • the Armagnac faction of the House of Orlėans is especially weakened by the loss at Agincourt
• As the English conquer more territory in the north of France, their French allies, the Burgundians, seize Paris in 1418.
• in 1420, the French King Charles VI signs the Treaty of Troyes, which hands French royal succession to the English King, Henry V and his heirs
  • the Treaty cuts out the French heir, Charles, who is known as the "Dauphin," or prince
  • the Dauphin aligns with the Argmagnac faction to oppose the Treaty of Troyes and to affirm French hold on the crown.
• Joan's village of Domrėmy remains loyal to the French cause in the ongoing Hundred Years War with England

• into the 1420s, the Burgundian-English alliance firms and

Saint Joan of Arc, 1412-1431

DATE	EVENT	NOTES
1337–1453	Hundred Years War between France and England	Not a continuous war, but a series of events, battles, alliances, treaties, etc. that decided control of France
1410s
1412	Jeanne born to Jacques and Isabelle Darc (or similar surname)	Her birth date was given by a contemporary as Feb 12, but she never claimed that day; Joan said that she was never called by her last name, so she never heard the words, "Jeanne d'Arc".
Jan 6	Joan's birthdate corresponding to the Epiphany.	Per a contemporary but never affirmed by Joan
Jan	We know she was born sometime in January, as she was baptized that month.	<< confirm
1415	Battle of Agincourt marks an overwhelming English victory; the Burgundian faction of France had stayed neutral in the invasion, leaving the Armagnac faction to fight the English on its own, which suffered a tremendous defeat	Henry V of England re-asserts English claims on France and commences accumulation of territory in northern France
1417	Pope Martin V elected, ending the Western Schism	the Avignon antipope continues his claim on the office, although without French backing (which he lost several years before, which allowed for the eventual settlement in 1417)
1418	The French Burgundian faction seizes Paris
Sept 10 1419	The Duke of Burgundy, John the Fearless, is killed by guards of the Dauphin Charles	The Burgundians and the Dauphin's representatives were meeting to re-align themselves against the English; an argument broke out and the Duke was killed, which ended changes of a rapprochement.
1419	The Burgundian-English alliance begins
1420-1423
1420	Treaty of Troyes gives French succession to English King Henry V	the English maintain their claim on the French throne through the infant king, Henry VI, who assumed the title upon the death of French King Charles VI. He would be crowned King of France in Paris in 1431 under English-Burgundian control of the city.
1422	Charles VI of France and Henry V of England die; the infant king Henry VI declared by the English to be King of France
1423	Domrémy forced to pay a protection fee to a commander who had in 1419 sacked a nearby Burgundian village
Jul 13 1423	English-Burgundian victory at the Battle of Cravant
Sep 26 1423	In one of the first battles between the English and French since Agincourt in 1415, the French victory at the Battle of La Brossinière gives confidence to the French cause.	Charles VII, the Dauphin, sends a letter to the city of Tournai trumpeting the victory; Shortly before defeating the English at La Brossinière, the French had won a smaller battle against the Burgundians at La Buissiere.
1424-1427
Spring 1424	A Scottish army arrives to assist the French
Summer 1424	Joan experiences her first visions, starting with the Archangel Michael and then with Saints Catherine and Margaret	Possibly 1425; Joan said she was 13, so the year depends on assumptions of her birth year
Aug 17	Devastating English victory at Battle of Verneuil in northern France marks tremendous setback for France	Called the "Second Aigencourt"
1428
May	Joan's father allows her to visit a cousin at Burey-le-Petit, who was expecting	the location was near to Vaucouleurs, to where her uncle brought her
May 13	Joan's first trip to Vaucouleurs to meet Robert de Baudricourt; he rebuffs her and sends her home	May 13, 1428 was the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord (40 days after Easter Sunday)
June	Domreme raided by Burgundian forces and burnt and ransacked.	Domréme villagers flee to Neufchateau for protection from bandits; there, a man sues Joan for breach of marital contract
July	Joan and her family escape to Neufchâteau and stay with "la Rousse" for
Oct 12	The siege of Orleans begins
Fall
1429
January	Joan stays with her uncle , Durand Laxart at Burey-le-Petit	She visits under the pretext of assisting is pregnant wife
January-February	Second visit to Vaucouleurs; Joan is again rebuffed by Baudricourt; however her notoriety rises, leading to great curiosity about he in the region.	Joan says "farewell" to a friend
early February	Joan is summoned by the Duke of Lorraine
February 12	Joan tells Baudricourt the French would lose another battle.
February 12	French forces lose the Battle of the Herrings	The French had attacked an English supply convoy that was carrying salted herring to their troops at Orléans.
February 13	Baudricourt sends Joan away for the second time	It was the first Sunday of Lent that year, and Joan had returned to Vaucouleurs
	Joan, her uncle and another supporter try to go to Chinon by themselves	They turn back, realizing that they need Baudricourt's introduction
February 22	Joan returns and Baudricourt, now convinced by her prediciton of the Battle of Herrings, agrees to send Joan to see the Dauphin
February 22	Joan departs for Chinon to meet the Dauphin; Baudricourt supplies her with a horse and gear; she also acquires men's clothing and cuts her hair	Joan stated, " I had with me a Knight, a Squire, and four servants" She continues, "Robert de Baudricourt made those who went with me swear to conduct me well and safely. ‘Go,’ said Robert de Baudricourt to me, ‘Go! and let come what may!’
March 6	Joan and her party arrive at Chinon
March 9	Joan meets the Dauphin
March	Joan sent to Poitiers for examination by ecclesticcal tribunal	Before or after the inquiry, Joan is also examined by ladies of the Court to confirm her virginity
March 22	Joan dictates her audacious letter of warning to the English King and his commander in France, the Duke of Bedford	Likely written from Poitiers where she was under interrogation by the King's counselors
March 25	Joan goes on traditional pilgrimage to Le Puy-en-Vley when Good Friday and Annunciation coincide	Her mother was also on a pilgrimage there
	The Dauphin orders armor plate for Joan (very specialized);	Joan asks for the sword from Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois, which was found be+9-hind the altar where, from afar, she had instructed them to find it.
April 4	Joan composes letter to King of England
April 15	The English Privy Council discusses a letter from the Duke of Bedford that warned that the French now intended to crown Charles VII King of France	Bedford's concern can only come from
Relief of Orléans April-May 1429
April	Joan travels to Tours where she receives battle gear, including her banner (standard)
April 24	Joan arrives to Blois to lead the army gathered there
April 27 or 29	Joan leads the army towards Orléans
April 29	Joan meets the Bastard or Orléans, the Count of Dunois, who was in charge of the city's defense during the siege
April 29	Joan enters Orléans at 8:00 pm	She enters through the "Burgundy gate" and stays at the home of Jacques Boucher
English outworks during the siege of Orléans Map of the Siege of Orléans the city was on the north bank of the Loire River the main English fortification was on the south bank however, the English had built a series of forts on the north bank, which limited but did not entirely halt the French ability to supply the city
April 29	Joan leads the French army across the Loire and into the city of Orléans.	Joan prays at the Cathedral of Orleans
May 1	The Bastard of Orléans, the Count of Dunois, heads to Blois for reinforcements, leaving Orléans under the command of La Hire, with Joan there	Joan tours the city walls and exchanges words with the English commander William Glasdale, who insults her,
May 3	Dunois leads reinforcements from Blois towards Orléans
May 4 (Monday)	Early that morning Dunois' forces arrive to the north bank of the Loire, to the east of the city, near to an English garrison at St. Laurent; Joan rides out of the city to greet the French forces
	At noon, Dunois leads an attack upon 400 English troops near the church of Saint-Loupe, to the east of the city (on the north bank) and defeats 400 English; Joan learns of the assault and joins it just in time to rally faltering French troops.	Joan demands the sparing the lives of captured soldiers
May 5	Feast of the Ascension of the LordL Joan refuses to fight or even put on her armor;	Fighting is suspended in honor of the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord; it is unclear how the 5th marks the Feast Day, as 40 days after Easter Sunday of 1429 would land on May 7
	She does write a letter to the English, which is sent to their camp by arrow at Les Tourelles
May 6	Dunois and his commanders plan an assault upon the south bank of the river, across from the city; Joan insists upon allowing a militia from the city to join the battle, to which the professional soldiers disagree. Joan prevails in the decision.
	The army crosses the Loire River, but before a complete landing, La Hire attacks English positions near Les Tourelles, which is the strongest English fortification directly across from the city (to protect the city the bridge was partly dismantled on the far side by the French).	Exposed English fire from Les Tourelles, the French retreat, dragging Joan back with them; as the English commence a pursuit, Joan turns, raises her standard and declares, "Au nom de Dieu!" ("In the name of God!"), which startles the English and ignites the French, so the English counter-attack is turned away.
	The French then launch an attack upon an English hold to the south of Les Tourelles, called "Les Augustins", which succumbs to the French by nightfall.	Joan injures her foot by stepping on a spike and does not participate in the military council that night. She tells her confessor, Jean Pasquerel, "Tomorrow blood will flow from my body above my breast."
May 7	Against the wishes of the commanders and to great exclamation in the city, Joan leaves the city and joins the French army on the southern bank.	To support the attack, citizens commence repair of the bridge and station artillery on the island of Saint-Antoine.
	Outside of Tourelles, Joan is hit by a longbow arrow between her neck and left shoulder; she is taken back to the city.	At news of her injury and perhaps death, French morale drops and that of the English rises, and the assault on Les Tourelles falters.
	Upon learning the Dunois planned to call off the attack, Joan goes into prayer, then returns to the army, telling the solders that when her standard touched the fortress wall it would be theirs, that the "telling the troops that when her banner touched the fortress wall the place would be theirs. Amidst the commotion of battle and English missiles, she made her way to the wall. A French solder yelled, "It's touching!" to which Joan responded, "Tout est vostre – et y entrez!" ("All is yours, – go in!"). The French rushed forward with ladders and breached the walls.	Forced to the back of the fort complex on a drawbridge, the English commander falls into the river and drowns;
	Into the evening, the French continue to clear out the fortress and redoubts from the south, while an assault is launched from the city itself across the quickly-repaired bridge. 1,000 English are killed, 600 taken prisoner, and 200 French prisoners are released.
May 8	English abandon Orléans	Joan counsels mercy and not to chase after the English.
Loire Campaign, June 1429
June 11-12	Battle of Jargeau: Joan personally leads the assault upon the walls and takes the fortified town.	The Duke d'Alencon said the French killed 1,000 English soldiers while pursuing them out of the town.
June 15	Battle of Meung-sur-Loire	French forces easily take a strategic bridge and run the English out of the town
June 16-17	Battle of Beaugency	Count of Richemont arrives night of the first day, and is welcomed by Joan over the objections of other leaders
June 18	Battle of Patay: tremendous French victory that opens the path to Reims
Reims & the Coronation of Charles VII
June 30	French minister La Trémoïlle begins negotiations with the Burgundians	The deception and undermining of Joan by the French court begins
July 17	Dauphin coronated as King Charles VII at Reims; Joan is given prominent placement in the ceremony along with her battle flag	Charles VII lingers at Reims while Joan urges an attack on Paris.
July 17	The same day of the Coronation of Charles VII, Joan sends a letter to the Duke of Burgundy.
July 22	Soissons surrenders to Joan
mid-August	The English commander Bedford names the Duke of Burgundy governor of Paris
August 15	English and French armies led by their respective heads, the English Duke of Bedford and the French King Charles VII, line up at Montépilloy outside of Paris	on August 16, the English army moves back to Paris
August 26	Joan at St. Denis outside of Paris
August 28	Charles VII signs secret pact with Duke of Burgundy to halt military operations through Christmas
September 8	Joan leads assault upon walls of Paris and is injured
September 10	Charles VII orders retreat from the advance upon Paris
September 18	Charles signs another treay with the Duke of Burgundy	In November, the truce is agreed to be extended through Easter
October 10	Chancellor of France Regnault de Chartres heads to St. Denis to secretly negotiate directly with the English on behalf of Charles VII.	Chartres was also the Archbishop of Rheims who had coronated Charles VII.
November 4	Joan leads the assault upon the fortified town of Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier.	Charles VII enobles Joan following the battle.
November 24	Joan's defeat at La Charité
1430
April	Joan prays for a dead baby who revives long enough to be baptized before dying again.
April 16	Easter Sunday
April 23	The English child King Henry VI lands a Calais; he goes to Rouen
May 23	Joan captured by Burgundians at the siege of Compiègne	Joan was delivered to the Duke of Luxumbourg
	She is held at the Castle of Clairoix
	Charles VII refuses to pay her ranson
September 18	Joan, the Demoiselle of Luxumbourg, dies, freeing the John, the Duke of Luxembourg to ransom Joan to the English. He immediately cuts the deal.	The Demoiselle had befriended Joan during her imprisonment at Beaurevoir, and used a promise of inheritance to the Duke as lever for him not to ransom her to the English.
Sept or early Oct	On realizing that she will be handed over to the English, Joan attempts to escape from Beaurevoir Castle	She tumbles 60 feet to the ground, laying there stunned, but alive. She credits God with saving her life.
Mid-Summer	Joan moved to Beaurevoir Castle, which was more secure
Sep or Oct	Joan moved to Arras under Burgundian control as they negotiated the ransom for her from the English
Oct 25- early Nov	A French relief army is sent to Compiègne, under Count de Vendome; the Burgundian of the city siege is lifted in early November.
Late Nov	English pay the ransom and she is transferred to Crotoy, a coastal English fortress
Late 1430/ early 1431	Joan is taken to Rouen, the English administrative center	Henry VI was at Rouen;
1431
Feb 21	Joan's show trial at Rouen commences with the first of six "public examinations" (the court later moved to "private examinations" as it was getting embarrassed by Joan's testimonies). Present on the 21st at the Castle of Rouen was Bishop Cauchon and forty-two "Assessors", made up of clerics and theologians from Rouen and Paris.	The English hand Joan over to a French ecclesiastical court, but, in violation of that transfer of authority, keep her in an English prison; normally she would be held in a Church prison for women
March 27-28	The Seventy Articles read to Joan over two days, and she is required to respond to each.
May 9	Joan is brought before torture instruments and threatened with their use	Joan responds, "Truly if you were to tear me limb from limb, and separate soul and body, I will tell you nothing more; and, if I were to say anything else, I should always afterwards declare that you made me say it by force."
May 12	The fourteen court "Assessors" (judges) decide not to submit Joan to torture, which, one of the two who argued for it said would be “a salutary medicine for her soul."
May 23 Wednesday	The formal sentence consisting of 77 is read to Joan	University of Paris theologian Pierre Maurice admonishes Joan to save her soul
May 24	Joan signs the abjuration document
May 28	Joan rescinds her abjuration
May	Joan is convicted of heresy in ecclesiastical court
May 30	Joan is burned at the stake
June 7	Testimonies of several Judges recorded in the highly dubious "Subsequent Examinations" about confessions and interrogations with Joan on May 30th.
1434
Nov 30	A deep freeze settled on France and England starting on the Feast Day of the Saint Andrew, Patron Saint of the Burgundian, leading to hardship across Normandy and discontent with the English occupation.	The Thames Froze
1435
January	Local revolts against English erupt between Falaise, Carentan, and Bayeux	La Hire continued raids, and the Duke d'Alencon (Bastard of Orleans) led the rebel army
June 1	The Bastard of Orleans takes Saint Denis	English defenders were "slaughtered without mercy"
1450s
1456, July 7	The conviction is invalidated and Joan is declared a martyr for France
1905, April 11	Joan beatified by Pope Pius X
1920, May 16	Saint Joan canonized by Pope Benedict XVI

Sources

• Pernoud, Regine, Joan of Arc: her story, Appendix 11
• Murray, T, Douglas, Jeanne D‘arc, The Trials, starting p. 377, "CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF JEANNE D’ARC"