January 16, 2024 • 38 mins
Discover the remarkable saga of Joan of Arc, the peasant girl turned war leader who shifted the destiny of France. Our latest episode of Double Helix's Blueprint of Nations is a tapestry of courage, divinely inspired battles, and the shaping of national identity. You'll be riveted by the account of how a teenage visionary donned armor and defied the societal constraints of 15th-century France to become an enduring emblem of hope and resistance.
Embark on the journey with us as we trace Joan's footsteps from the humble beginnings in Domrémy to the Siege of Orléans, where her strategic brilliance and inspirational presence breathed new life into the French cause. We examine the complexities of her divine visions and the transformational role they played in the Hundred Years' War, culminating in the crowning of Charles VII. Joan's story is a galvanizing reminder that the power of unwavering faith and conviction can change the course of history, leaving an indelible mark on a nation's spirit.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Welcome to Double Healing's Blue Print of Nations,
season 1, episode 4, the Maidof Warlion through the fires of
war.
Here is she, who seems not tocome from anywhere on earth, who
(00:29):
seems to be sent from heaven tosustain with her neck and
shoulders a fallen France.
She raised a king out of thevast abyss onto the harbor and
shore by laboring in storms andtempests, and she lifted up the
spirits of the French to agreater hope.
By restraining the ferocity ofthe English, she excited the
(00:50):
bravery of the French, sheprohibited the ruin of France
and she extinguished the firesof France.
O, singular virgin worthy ofall glory, worthy of all praise,
worthy of divine honors, youare the honor of the rain, you
are the light of the lily, youare the beauty, the glory not
(01:13):
only of France but of allChristendom.
Charles VII, king of France.
If you could distill the essenceof what a nation means to
itself into one person or onesymbol, what would it be For
America?
(01:33):
Since I live here, it'sprobably the Statue of Liberty,
right?
Maybe you came up with adifferent symbol, or even an
animal the bald eagle.
Perhaps Today we'll try tolearn about who.
I think is that for France asmuch as any other symbol or
person.
As we unfold the layers of Joanof Arc's story, we'll learn
(01:56):
about the implausible, theextraordinary and the
indomitable spirit of a nation,for ultimately, that is what she
would come to represent to past, current and future generations
of French men and women alike.
Imagine, if you will, that youare 13 years old, thinking about
the things 13-year-olds thinkabout.
(02:18):
It hadn't been a long time forme, so I don't remember.
But imagine.
Suddenly you begin to hearvoices, voices asking you to
leave everything you know andlove behind to help lead the
armies of your nation indefeating almost 100 years of
occupation and war.
I think it's safe to assumemost of us would chalk it up to
(02:42):
our out-of-control hormones andgo about the rest of our lives
right.
Well, this improbable andsomewhat crazy scenario is
precisely what we are here todiscuss Today.
We'll step into theextraordinary life of Johann La
Poussée, better known to you andme as Joan of Arc or the maid
(03:03):
of Warlain, or Joan the Maid.
Among the leaders we've explored, none have raised as many
questions as this enigmaticfigure.
She is the most studied figureof the Middle Ages, and for good
reason.
After this, the young womanstepping onto the stage,
seemingly out of thin air, readyto lead her nation's armies at
(03:26):
a time when such feats wereunheard of.
This is not just remarkable, itis downright mythical.
Fast forward to today and Joan,now a Catholic saint in fact,
the patron saint of France stillembodies the fighting spirit of
(03:47):
the French nation.
She is a symbol of courage thatdefies the odds, and she did it
against all odds.
For Joan's tale, it isn't justabout facing a military
challenge that had been ragingfor nearly a century.
It's also about a young womannavigating 15th century societal
challenges in a world dominatedby patriarchal norms and
(04:10):
downright misogyny.
In the span of a very shortlife, she was saint soldier,
leader and later, as we will see, villain.
Before diving into Joan'sremarkable story, though, I
think it would be fair to putsome basic concepts down,
because the first time I learnedabout this story I got very
(04:32):
confused, so I figure I wouldtry to save you some of that
confusion.
For starters, the same nameswill pop up a number of times.
There is lots of Charles's,edwards, henry's.
There is also a significantnumber of French words, which I
will certainly butcher, so bearwith me, please.
In addition, the dynasticstruggle at the center of the
(04:56):
Hundred Years War is equallyconfusing because, in the middle
of the English attempt to claimthe French throne, there is a
French civil war for control ofset throne, which is how you end
up with two French lineagesthat claim the throne.
Finally, I will often refer toboth France and England as
(05:16):
kingdoms rather than nations,because at the time of these
events, that is what they were.
The modern nations we knowtoday were not yet fully formed.
With that said, let's rewind abit and explore the backdrop
against which the tale of Joande Maid unfolds.
Without understanding thisbackground, it is very hard to
(05:37):
understand why she mattered somuch and why her story was also
so improbable.
The Hundred Years War was theepic saga of the Middle Ages.
The world that emerged from thewar was essentially different
from the one that preceded it.
Understanding the modern worldof nation-states without it
(05:59):
would be difficult at best.
Contrary to its name, theconflicts banned a ridiculous
116 years, pitting the kingdomsof England against France in a
struggle for control overdynastic claims.
Other than a continuous,unbroken war, like, say, world
War II, it manifested as aseries of conflicts
(06:21):
characterized by intermittent,sometimes lengthy lulls between
the two kingdoms Throughout thisextended period.
A perpetual state of warsimmered between France and
England, setting the stage for aturbulent era that sought
countless battles, politicalmaneuvering and left much of the
French countryside in shambles.
(06:41):
The Hundred Years War has alsoleft a memorable mark on popular
culture, serving as thewellspring for many
Middle-Age-themed tropes,stereotypes and legends.
Whether you're a fan of Game ofThrones or enchanted by the
high fantasy of the Lord of theRings series, the worlds
depicted, with their knights,ruthless apportionism and brutal
(07:05):
hand-to-hand combat find theirroots in the tumultuous and
dynamic realm of the HundredYears War.
This period of European historywas the crucible in which the
first true sense of nationhoodemerged for both France and
England.
Before this protracted conflict, they held more in common with
(07:26):
collections of feudal duchies,obligations and competing claims
for land a collection of landsfor it fieldies to a Lord here
or there, than they do with anation or country that you would
recognize today.
However, the wars aftermathmarked a transformative moment,
shaping the modern nations werecognize today.
(07:46):
In the case of France, theembodiment of this nascent
identity carries a singular nameJoan of Arc.
Known in her own words asJohann de Maid, or simply de
Maid, she became the catalystfor France's early shaping into
a cohesive and resilient nation.
As we unravel Joan's story,we'll witness how she played a
(08:10):
pivotal role in not just turningthe tide of the war but also
emolding the very essence ofFrench national identity.
The war began many years beforeJoan enters the scene, almost a
hundred years before, in 1337,as Edward III, king of England,
sought to press his lineal claimon the throne of France as he
(08:32):
was the nearest living malerelative to the French king
Charles IV.
It is important to note that atthis point in history, the
English held a significantportion of southwestern France
called Gaskonie and Guyant.
I will include the obligatorymap on Instagram to help you
orient.
Edward had a number of reasonsfor pressing his claim.
(08:55):
A couple important ones werehis displeasure with a French
alliance, with the Kingdom ofScotland and with French
treatment of his holdings inGaskonie, because by this time,
french nobility was beginning toquestion the need to have
English owning large swathes ofFrance.
Faced with this agitatedenvironment, Edward threatened
(09:15):
to press his claim.
By 1337, the French call toarms was raised.
The game of thrones fans willcall this the racing of the
banners and houses loyal to thecrown.
And so the war began, and withthe initial French aim to
reclaim Gaskonie into the fold.
Edward advanced into the northof France, quickly ceasing the
(09:38):
initiative, and by 1340, edwardwould be calling himself King of
France, fully pressing hisclaim.
The war which followed proveddisastrous for France.
The smaller and less populousKingdom of England, led by
Edward III and later his son,edward the Black Prince,
inflicted the disastrous defeatafter disastrous defeat on the
(10:00):
larger French armies.
At the Battle of Sluise, wherethe French fleet was annihilated
, the threat of a Frenchinvasion of England was
completely eliminated.
And then at Crassie and,famously, at Poitiers, the
English were victorious onceagain.
Adding insult to injury, afterthe Battle of Poitiers, the
(10:21):
English captured the French King, who was now John II, taking
him into activity to the Towerof London.
With France in the brink ofcollapse, edward and England
secured the first piece of theconflict in 1360.
This tumultuous period laid thefoundation for the complex
geopolitical landscape intowhich Joan of Arc would later
(10:42):
emerge, marking a crucialchapter in the evolving history
of both nations.
The French would claw back someof their land from the English
in the subsequent decades, underthe leadership of Charles V,
but ultimately a stalemateremained.
It was now half-time in theHundred Years' War by 1415, the
(11:04):
Hundred Years' War resumedvigorously under the leadership
of the legendary Henry V, afigure who could merit a podcast
dedicated solely to hisexploits.
I should emphasize that I haveto find a way to do an episode
on Edward the Black Prince andon Henry V.
They are two of the mostremarkable medieval warlords of
(11:24):
all history.
Anyway, henry V brought thesuperior French forces to battle
at the Battle of Eggingcourt onOctober 1415.
The battle that unfolded wasone of the most improbable
victories in military history.
Despite being vastlyoutnumbered, with estimates as
disadvantageous as a five-to-oneadvantage to the French, the
(11:49):
English emerged triumphant.
The aftermath of Eggingcourt wasdevastating for the French.
Over 10,000 soldiers laid death, including three dukes, seven
counts, the Constable of France,the commanding general of
French forces, the Admiral ofFrance and more than 90 other
lords, along with 1,500 knights.
(12:10):
In a single day, the flower ofthe French military was lost.
In addition, morale wascompletely set from the French.
The English, under theleadership of Henry V, seemed
invincible and for a time itseems like they were Discrushing
.
Defeat instilled a pervasivesense of defeatism and a lack of
(12:34):
belief in French ability toresist the English conquest.
The remnants of the Frenchkingdom, grappled with this grim
attitude onto the arrival ofour main protagonist, whose
extraordinary story wouldbreathe new life and hope into
the beleaguered kingdom.
As you can see, then, theHundred Years War sets the stage
(12:54):
for the complex and challengingenvironment into which our
central character, joan of Arc,emerges A backdrop of almost a
century of conflict, continuouswarfare and the devastating
impacts of campaigns up and downthe French countryside.
One of these campaign styles orways of making war was called a
chevrochet.
(13:14):
A chevrochet consisted ofessentially pillaging and
raiding all the areas that cameinto contact with the attacking
army.
Being a peasant in the 14th and15th century was no fun, but
imagine being one in France.
That must have been downrightdepressing.
The Kingdom of France was in astate of complete despair.
(13:38):
By 1420, the intricate Treaty ofTroyes essentially made Henry V
heir to the French throne.
While Charles VI was stillrecognized as the current King
of France, he was ill and alwaysstruggling with bouts of mental
and physical decline.
Every expectation was thatHenry would outlive the sickly
(13:59):
French king, thus making himKing of France.
Despite that and insurancepolicy, henry was also to be
married to Charles' daughter,and their offering would become
the rightful heir to theKingdoms of England and France.
In addition, the treaty madethe Daphan or the heir to the
French throne disowned.
(14:20):
His name was yes, you guessedit Charles.
He was the son of Charles VIand should have been the
rightful heir to the Frenchthrone, where it not for the
English and Henry V.
So it was to everyone'ssurprise, and Henry's in
particular, when he diedsuddenly in 1422, just before
(14:44):
Charles VI, who did follow himinto the grave.
Two months later, france wasleft in the midst of a dispute
for the throne.
Henry V's insurance policyworked and he was able to
conceive a child, now calledHenry VI and who had the nominal
claim as King of England andFrance.
The English allied with Burgundy, a significant French tuchy who
(15:07):
approved of the treaty andrecognized Henry VI's claim.
On the other side stood Charles, the French heir, and his
faction, which still controlleda significant portion of France
and continued to claim to be therightful lineage.
They were known as the Armanacs.
You see why this is where Gameof Thrones got its inspiration
(15:29):
who gets to sit the throne?
All at the center of thecontroversy.
For the purposes of avoidingfurther confusion, just know
that when we refer to theEnglish, going forward would
mean the English and theBurgundians, and when we mean
France, we mean those parts ofthe country still loyal to the
son of Charles VI and the heirof the French throne, also
(15:51):
called the Armanacs by 1428,.
The English are preparing tostrike what they hope will be a
final blow against the French.
Their objective is the city ofOrleans, which they besieged in
October 1428.
Taking Orleans would open upthe door to the remaining French
(16:11):
possessions.
It is here that we finally meetour protagonists.
And you may wonder why all thisbackground?
As I said before, without it,the impact the maid had on
France is hard to understand.
100 years of war, mostlyhumiliating defeats, a country
(16:32):
ransacked by the Chebyshe.
Oh, and don't forget the BlackDeath, which happened in the
late 1300s and decimated theFrench population.
Things seem to be againstFrance.
Joan of Arc's arrival becomes apivotal turning point,
injecting hope and courage intoa beleaguered nation.
(16:54):
Her extraordinary story unfoldsagainst this backdrop of
adversity and as we explore herlife, we'll witness how she
played a crucial role inreshaping the destiny of France.
For now, the Hundred Years War,which is not the topic of this
podcast, despite what you mightbelieve, will fade into the
background of our story.
We'll come back to the HundredYears War in another episode, I
(17:18):
am sure.
Near Orleans there was a smallvillage, one of the few that had
managed to resist Englishcontrol, at least on and off the
village of Don Remy.
The small village would come toplay a key role in the history
of France.
It is here where, sometime inthe years following the death of
Henry V, that a young girl willbegin hearing a calling from
(17:42):
beyond, a calling which wouldchange France forever.
By now, almost a full centuryhad passed since hostilities had
first begun.
As we mentioned, france wasbeset by the English and their
Burgundian allies on the onehand, but ferocious infighting
brought about by the challengesof succession and the question
(18:05):
of who should rule what was leftof the kingdom.
The world Joan entered andembroiled herself with could not
have been a more difficult one.
Looking at the state of affairswould have discouraged the most
capable of military leaders.
But how about a non-assumingpeasant, a young woman only a
young teenager at this point,involved in military affairs in
(18:28):
an age where this was not to be?
Where did she get her power?
Why did she do it?
She was clear as to where shegot her power.
She attributed her power toforces beyond our world, to
angels and saints, to GodHimself.
The waning French effort neededinspiration.
(18:49):
It needed a leader, and Joanwould prove to be all that and
then some more.
Joan was born in the smallvillage of Don Remy sometime in
1412, within the fringes of theEnglish and Burgundian dominated
regions of France, in otherwords, the parts not loyal to
(19:10):
the French air.
Her early life appears to havebeen mostly unremarkable, with
an upbringing that resembledthat of most peasants of the
time.
She had three brothers and asister and was well versed in
the Christian religion of herparents and country.
The point to make here is thatthere is no indication that she
(19:31):
was educated in military affairsor came from an overtly
political family.
She was, as I said before,rather unremarkable.
That is until she turned 13years old and began hearing what
she described as the voices ofangels and saints asking her to
embark on a mission to saveFrance.
(19:52):
It is worth noting that duringthe time of her childhood,
perhaps due to the difficultsituation, france found itself
in several prophecies thatforetold of the arrival of a
virgin or a maid who woulddeliver France from the English
abounded.
There is no way to know ifthese prophecies influenced
(20:12):
Joan's visions later on, but itis possible that they had an
effect on the broader public,making it easier for them to
believe in the legitimacy of hercalling.
The mystery of what compelled ayoung peasant girl living on the
edge of a warren torn landscapeto embrace the cause of her
country remains elusive.
(20:32):
Some suggest that theories arethat she suffered a traumatic
brain injury.
Hysteria, or perhapsschizophrenia.
The truth is, we don't reallyknow.
What we do know is that shefirmly believed the voices she
heard were real.
Her unwavering dedication toher mission, even in the face of
(20:54):
the ultimate penalty death byburning which spoiler alert she
did endure when captured by theEnglish hamburgundians, reveals
an unshakable faith andconviction in her calling.
By the time her story andmission became widely known,
joan was only around 16 yearsold.
Imagine a teenage girl takingon the weight of a kingdom's
(21:18):
destiny with a courage thattranscended her age.
It is a tale that straddles thethin line between the
inexplicable and theextraordinary.
Joan's audacious journey beganwith a mission straight from the
Divine Playbook.
She aimed to reach the DauphanCharles and unveil her celestial
calling.
The core elements of hermission were crystal clear Lift
(21:41):
the Siege of Orleans, escortCharles to Rance for his
coronation as the rightful kingof all France and reclaim Paris
and expel the English fromFrance.
Now getting an audience withCharles the heir was no walk in
the park.
Her first step involved seekingassistance from her uncle to
(22:03):
secure a meeting with aprominent captain in Charles's
army.
Despite being turned away up tothree times, jones' unwavering
persistence won hearts andgradually convinced those around
her of the authenticity of hercalling.
This relentless determinationpaid off, leading her on a
two-week journey to ChinangCastle to meet the future king.
(22:24):
On her way to Chinang, joandonned men's clothes for the
first time, a wardrobe choiceshe'd stick to for the rest of
her life.
Imagine the audacity a younggirl defying convention, clad in
armor and ready to challengethe course of history.
Jones' cross-dressing is asignificant aspect of her story
(22:46):
and it is not to be understated.
It became one of the chargesbrought against her later on, a
claim used to label her as aheretic.
Interestingly, it's also amarker that some point to as
evidence of her being aproto-feminist.
For Joan herself, dressing as aman and adopting a male haircut
(23:06):
wasn't about making a statementon her sexuality, at least to
all indications.
Instead, it was a practicalchoice, a means to set herself
apart from other women of hertime.
Distinction was crucial for her, given the gravity of her holy
mission.
While we can't definitivelyknow her motivations,
(23:27):
cross-dressing may have played arole.
Consider the context, too, ofan era where rape and sexual
abuse were tragicallycommonplace, especially as forms
of military and extrajudicialpunishment.
Dressing as a man may haveserved as a protective measure,
helping Joan navigate thedangers she faced on her sacred
(23:48):
quest.
Upon meeting Charles, joan founda court in disarray, grappling
with timidity and indecision inthe face of English resistance.
The message she brought, one ofsalvation and divine mandate,
essentially asserting that Godwas on Francis' side, started to
transform the conflict thatshifted from a mere struggle
(24:11):
over dynastic claims andinheritance to one infused with
religious overtones, in a movethat was nothing short of
radical.
Joan's first request to Charleswas to be sent to Orléans with
soldiers to lift the siege.
Picture this again a young girldressed as a man, asking not
just to join the battle but tolead men into combat, or while
(24:34):
proclaiming to speak on behalfof God and angels.
It was as if an alien hadlanded in 15th century France.
The sheer improbability of itall might have been precisely
what turned skeptics intobelievers.
After her initial meeting withCharles, joan was taken to a
group of church authorities inPoitiers.
(24:55):
It was an ecclesiasticalcouncil set up to confirm the
truth of her story.
In addition, the prominentwomen of the court verified
whether Joan was indeed a maidor not.
With everyone satisfied, shewas sent, along with manned arms
, new plate of armor and her ownbanner, to Orléans to relieve
the siege.
(25:15):
Just a few months before, shehad been a peasant girl working
her family fields, and now shewas a military commander, clad
in armor and ready to embark onthe pivotal moments of her life.
In April 1429, joan and herrelief army made it to Orléans.
Despite the fact that she was awoman, the divine nature of her
(25:39):
mission had spread throughoutthe area, as a recruitment of
troops did not prove difficult.
Already, she was being cast assome sort of avatar in the saint
Her new army of some 10,000 men, made for Orléans proper and
fueled by an enthusiasm andenergy that had not been there
for almost two decades prior,since the rampaging arrival of
(26:00):
Henry V of French shores.
Initially, she was viewed as atotem or of inspiration, not to
be involved in the core of thefighting as she was given no
command and was to take no partin the council set up to discuss
the siege.
However, throughout the siegeshe earned her stripes on the
field.
She moved around the battle,embroiling herself where the
(26:23):
fighting was the worst.
She was wounded by an arrowabove her breast but kept
fighting.
In one particular incident,during the assault on an
surrounding fortress that wasgoing poorly for the French, she
rode to the spot of the assault, racing her banners and helping
in the charge that took thefortress.
Despite constant passivity andhesitation from other French
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commanders, the maid keptencouraging the attack, urging
the French to keep up theassault.
It was in the final assaultagainst the last remaining
English stronghold where Joanwas wounded by an arrow.
By May 8, 1429, the English hadretreated.
The siege of Orleans was over.
Joan the maid, the teenagerwith the five deats, had been a
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big part of the victory.
For their part, the English andBurgundians began to see Jones'
intervention as an act of evil,noting in their initial reports
that her success was due toEnchantment and Sorcery.
Surely, to them, the only wayshe was able to succeed was that
(27:31):
she was of the devil In Orleans, the city that she had helped
to rescue.
She would forever be placed ina place of honor, both in life
and even later after she died.
From this point forward, shewould always be known as Joan
the Maid of Orleans.
Following the victory in Orleans, joan and the newly invigorated
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French army embarked on acampaign to reconquist the Loire
Valley from the English.
The purpose of this was toachieve the second part of her
mission the coronation ofCharles as Charles VII in France
.
At the towns of the Loire.
The Maid once again insertedherself in the thickest part of
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the fighting, constantly racingher banner and urging the men on
in the midst of the fray.
While she offered encouragementand inspiration, she also
fought, and as a commander sheopted for speed and relentless
attack as the way to dislodgethe English and their allies.
At Jargo, she was again brieflywounded by a stone, which
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dropped over her head and splither helmet.
Yet she persisted, encouragingthose around her to continue the
attack.
An important aspect of herparticipation throughout the
campaign was her emphasis onspeed and daring in the pursuit
of the English.
Countless times she was facedwith the timid French commanders
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who wished to rest, taketactical breaks or expected to
assess more before attacking.
Time and again she advocatedfor faster action and for
constant pursuit.
From a purely tacticalperspective, this was inspired
guidance which allowed theFrench to build on their
momentum.
All of these battles culminatedin the Battle of Patay, where
(29:16):
the French defeated the reliefEnglish army sent from Paris.
The way to Rance was finallyopened In an astonishing four
months.
Joan's courage, leadership andencouragement had managed to
turn French fortunes From the17th of July 1429, charles VII
(29:36):
was crowned and consecrated asKing of France in Ross.
Just as Joan had foretold inher visions, despite divisions
in the French court, frenchforces attacked Paris on
September 8.
As before, joan rode ahead andinserted herself in the hardest
fighting.
She was wounded in the leg by acrossbow bolt and had to be
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rescued after the assault byhiding in a trench for the day.
The realities of combat werestarting to catch up to her
visions.
Amazingly, she would remaindefiant and committed throughout
, regardless of the personaldangers that she faced.
Despite her further urgings, theattack on Paris was finally
abandoned and Joan's tature inthe court of the king she helped
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to crown began to falter.
She continued to remaincommitted to her king and the
kingdom even after her rolebecame more secondary Because of
the defeat in Paris.
Rumblings began that perhapsher mission was not divine after
all.
Shortly after this, she wassent with a force to battle a
(30:41):
French mercenary who had foughtfor the English and the
Burgundians.
Once again, joan's force wasdefeated and her status
diminished even further when, bythe end of 1429, charles signed
a four-month truce with theBurgundians.
With her role diminished, joanremained impassive, seeking to
(31:01):
advance against the enemies ofFrance.
This led to her violation ofthe truce between France and
Burgundy and her attack againstBurgundy in Compiants.
The attack failed and she wasunable to muster enough forces
for the attack until she wascaptured by the Burgundians.
She did attempt to escape twice, once jumping from a window and
(31:22):
falling on a dry moat, but shewas unsuccessful.
The Burgundians negotiated withthe English and sold her for
10,000 pounds.
The English rejoiced at havingremoved her as a military threat
from the field, that sheremained too dangerous to be
left alive, and so what wouldfollow would be a shameful show
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trial in Rome.
It was January 1431 and she wasonly 18 or 19 years old by this
time.
Joan of Arc was put on trial forheresy, blasphemy, for wearing
men's clothes and for havingdemonic visions, because she
claimed to be on a mission fromGod, validated by her results,
(32:05):
namely the crowning of CharlesVII.
It was important to the Englishto invalidate her visions or
religious grounds, becauseotherwise the assumed truth
would be that the English werein France unlawfully and that
their century-long claim had novalidity in the eyes of God.
Remember, during this time ofhuman and European history,
god's opinion of your actionswas as important as anything
(32:28):
else, in some cases moreimportant.
To this end, the trial became aseries of religious accusations
fueled by the hatred theEnglish felt towards Joan.
She remained defiant, affirmingthat she could not be judged by
anyone else but God.
The trial, although French inname, was bought and paid for by
the English, with most of theparticipants being pro-English
(32:52):
or pro-Burkandy.
The trial of Joan of Arc is oneof the better documented
episodes of medieval history.
A lot of what we know about hercomes from her testimony during
the trial.
It is clear that she remainedcomposed and firmly committed to
the supernatural qualities ofher mission.
Her defiance made her accuseher flirt with torture, but
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ultimately they decided againstit.
At the conclusion of the trial,joan was made to sign a
document where she agreed not tobear arms against England or
wear men's clothes.
Finally, the last few weeks ofher life passed as violent and
sad chapters, as her captorstaunted her, beat her and
harassed her.
(33:35):
Knowing that the punishment foran unrepentant heretic was
death, joan was given men'sclothes by her English captors.
Facing the constant threat ofrape and beatings, joan resumed
wearing men's clothes as a formof protection and comfort.
In addition, joan recanted herconfession, said that the vision
and voices had encouraged hernot to renounce her mission or
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her quest ever again, and sheagreed.
This was enough to label her anunrepentant heretic and thus
sentence her to death.
On May 30th 1431, the19-year-old Joan was put to
death by burning in themarketplace of Rang by the
English.
The remains were thrown intothe river nearby.
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She had died defiant the wayshe had lived, and from this
point forward, her legend wouldonly grow.
Her victories and encouragementhad changed the nature of the
conflict and by 1435, theBurgundians had abandoned their
alliance with the English.
22 years after her death, theinterminable 100 years of war
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finally came to an end with theFrench victory at the Battle of
Castillon.
It would be bold to claim thatthe war ended because of Joan,
but her life and example changedthe kinetic energy of the
conflict deriving an ultimateFrench victory, the English were
ultimately expelled from France, with Calais remaining the only
(35:07):
tow-hole left.
In 1455, a second trial of Joan, called the Rehabilitation
Trial, sought to undo most ofthe findings of the first trial.
This resulted in her sentencebeing nullified completely.
Over the centuries and decadesthat followed, joan remained a
potent symbol of God's favorover France and his overall
(35:29):
sponsorship of the French cause.
It was not until the early daysof the French Revolution that
her figure suffered minortarnishing for its association
with the French monarchy.
By the time our friend Napoleoncame to the scene, he restored
her image, fully crediting heras an icon of French ingenuity
and military prowess.
(35:50):
From that point forward, shehas been all things to all
people in France a symbol of thefree French during World War II
, but also one of fishy France.
She has recently even become asymbol of the French far right,
with its populist andnationalist overtones
intertwined with the story ofthe maid.
(36:12):
When I began this projectseeking to understand the
blueprint of nations, it wasalways with the hopes of
uncovering stories like that ofJoan of Arc.
She is the embodiment of France, and traces of her DNA permeate
the blueprint of the Frenchnation.
Like old, powerful symbols, shewill be appropriated by those
seeking to use her as one thingor the other, but she withstands
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the test and continues toresist in her own way.
Joan of Arc holds a profoundsignificance in French history,
embodying the spirit ofresilience, courage and national
identity of the nation.
Her unwavering determinationduring the Hundred Years War,
her role in lifting the Siege ofOrleans and her eventual
(36:56):
martyrdom have elevated her to asymbol of French patriotism.
Joan of Arc is seen as aunifying force, transcending
historical and culturalboundaries, representing the
enduring spirit of Franceagainst adversity.
She remains a cultural andhistorical icon, inspiring
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generations with her remarkablestory of bravery and conviction.
Thank you once again for joiningus on this captivating journey.
Don't forget to like and sharethe podcast.
While the tale of France is farfrom complete, we're now
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venturing below the equator.
For the first time.
In the podcast, we're nowventuring ourselves in the
stories of leaders who've woventhe fabric of nations.
Our next destination SouthAfrica.
Here we'll unravel the legaciesof two influential leaders,
beginning with the timelessMediba, nelson Mandela.
As we bid adieu to France fornow, keep that spirit of
(38:01):
exploration alive, stay curious,keep learning and join us next
time on Double Helix Blueprintof Nations.
Until then, happy exploring.
Welcome to Double Healing's Blue Print of Nations,
season 1, episode 4, the Maidof Warlion through the fires of
war.
Here is she, who seems not tocome from anywhere on earth, who
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seems to be sent from heaven tosustain with her neck and
shoulders a fallen France.
She raised a king out of thevast abyss onto the harbor and
shore by laboring in storms andtempests, and she lifted up the
spirits of the French to agreater hope.
By restraining the ferocity ofthe English, she excited the
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bravery of the French, sheprohibited the ruin of France
and she extinguished the firesof France.
O, singular virgin worthy ofall glory, worthy of all praise,
worthy of divine honors, youare the honor of the rain, you
are the light of the lily, youare the beauty, the glory not
(01:13):
only of France but of allChristendom.
Charles VII, king of France.
If you could distill the essenceof what a nation means to
itself into one person or onesymbol, what would it be For
America?
(01:33):
Since I live here, it'sprobably the Statue of Liberty,
right?
Maybe you came up with adifferent symbol, or even an
animal the bald eagle.
Perhaps Today we'll try tolearn about who.
I think is that for France asmuch as any other symbol or
person.
As we unfold the layers of Joanof Arc's story, we'll learn
(01:56):
about the implausible, theextraordinary and the
indomitable spirit of a nation,for ultimately, that is what she
would come to represent to past, current and future generations
of French men and women alike.
Imagine, if you will, that youare 13 years old, thinking about
the things 13-year-olds thinkabout.
(02:18):
It hadn't been a long time forme, so I don't remember.
But imagine.
Suddenly you begin to hearvoices, voices asking you to
leave everything you know andlove behind to help lead the
armies of your nation indefeating almost 100 years of
occupation and war.
I think it's safe to assumemost of us would chalk it up to
(02:42):
our out-of-control hormones andgo about the rest of our lives
right.
Well, this improbable andsomewhat crazy scenario is
precisely what we are here todiscuss Today.
We'll step into theextraordinary life of Johann La
Poussée, better known to you andme as Joan of Arc or the maid
(03:03):
of Warlain, or Joan the Maid.
Among the leaders we've explored, none have raised as many
questions as this enigmaticfigure.
She is the most studied figureof the Middle Ages, and for good
reason.
After this, the young womanstepping onto the stage,
seemingly out of thin air, readyto lead her nation's armies at
(03:26):
a time when such feats wereunheard of.
This is not just remarkable, itis downright mythical.
Fast forward to today and Joan,now a Catholic saint in fact,
the patron saint of France stillembodies the fighting spirit of
(03:47):
the French nation.
She is a symbol of courage thatdefies the odds, and she did it
against all odds.
For Joan's tale, it isn't justabout facing a military
challenge that had been ragingfor nearly a century.
It's also about a young womannavigating 15th century societal
challenges in a world dominatedby patriarchal norms and
(04:10):
downright misogyny.
In the span of a very shortlife, she was saint soldier,
leader and later, as we will see, villain.
Before diving into Joan'sremarkable story, though, I
think it would be fair to putsome basic concepts down,
because the first time I learnedabout this story I got very
(04:32):
confused, so I figure I wouldtry to save you some of that
confusion.
For starters, the same nameswill pop up a number of times.
There is lots of Charles's,edwards, henry's.
There is also a significantnumber of French words, which I
will certainly butcher, so bearwith me, please.
In addition, the dynasticstruggle at the center of the
(04:56):
Hundred Years War is equallyconfusing because, in the middle
of the English attempt to claimthe French throne, there is a
French civil war for control ofset throne, which is how you end
up with two French lineagesthat claim the throne.
Finally, I will often refer toboth France and England as
(05:16):
kingdoms rather than nations,because at the time of these
events, that is what they were.
The modern nations we knowtoday were not yet fully formed.
With that said, let's rewind abit and explore the backdrop
against which the tale of Joande Maid unfolds.
Without understanding thisbackground, it is very hard to
(05:37):
understand why she mattered somuch and why her story was also
so improbable.
The Hundred Years War was theepic saga of the Middle Ages.
The world that emerged from thewar was essentially different
from the one that preceded it.
Understanding the modern worldof nation-states without it
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would be difficult at best.
Contrary to its name, theconflicts banned a ridiculous
116 years, pitting the kingdomsof England against France in a
struggle for control overdynastic claims.
Other than a continuous,unbroken war, like, say, world
War II, it manifested as aseries of conflicts
(06:21):
characterized by intermittent,sometimes lengthy lulls between
the two kingdoms Throughout thisextended period.
A perpetual state of warsimmered between France and
England, setting the stage for aturbulent era that sought
countless battles, politicalmaneuvering and left much of the
French countryside in shambles.
(06:41):
The Hundred Years War has alsoleft a memorable mark on popular
culture, serving as thewellspring for many
Middle-Age-themed tropes,stereotypes and legends.
Whether you're a fan of Game ofThrones or enchanted by the
high fantasy of the Lord of theRings series, the worlds
depicted, with their knights,ruthless apportionism and brutal
(07:05):
hand-to-hand combat find theirroots in the tumultuous and
dynamic realm of the HundredYears War.
This period of European historywas the crucible in which the
first true sense of nationhoodemerged for both France and
England.
Before this protracted conflict, they held more in common with
(07:26):
collections of feudal duchies,obligations and competing claims
for land a collection of landsfor it fieldies to a Lord here
or there, than they do with anation or country that you would
recognize today.
However, the wars aftermathmarked a transformative moment,
shaping the modern nations werecognize today.
(07:46):
In the case of France, theembodiment of this nascent
identity carries a singular nameJoan of Arc.
Known in her own words asJohann de Maid, or simply de
Maid, she became the catalystfor France's early shaping into
a cohesive and resilient nation.
As we unravel Joan's story,we'll witness how she played a
(08:10):
pivotal role in not just turningthe tide of the war but also
emolding the very essence ofFrench national identity.
The war began many years beforeJoan enters the scene, almost a
hundred years before, in 1337,as Edward III, king of England,
sought to press his lineal claimon the throne of France as he
(08:32):
was the nearest living malerelative to the French king
Charles IV.
It is important to note that atthis point in history, the
English held a significantportion of southwestern France
called Gaskonie and Guyant.
I will include the obligatorymap on Instagram to help you
orient.
Edward had a number of reasonsfor pressing his claim.
(08:55):
A couple important ones werehis displeasure with a French
alliance, with the Kingdom ofScotland and with French
treatment of his holdings inGaskonie, because by this time,
french nobility was beginning toquestion the need to have
English owning large swathes ofFrance.
Faced with this agitatedenvironment, Edward threatened
(09:15):
to press his claim.
By 1337, the French call toarms was raised.
The game of thrones fans willcall this the racing of the
banners and houses loyal to thecrown.
And so the war began, and withthe initial French aim to
reclaim Gaskonie into the fold.
Edward advanced into the northof France, quickly ceasing the
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initiative, and by 1340, edwardwould be calling himself King of
France, fully pressing hisclaim.
The war which followed proveddisastrous for France.
The smaller and less populousKingdom of England, led by
Edward III and later his son,edward the Black Prince,
inflicted the disastrous defeatafter disastrous defeat on the
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larger French armies.
At the Battle of Sluise, wherethe French fleet was annihilated
, the threat of a Frenchinvasion of England was
completely eliminated.
And then at Crassie and,famously, at Poitiers, the
English were victorious onceagain.
Adding insult to injury, afterthe Battle of Poitiers, the
(10:21):
English captured the French King, who was now John II, taking
him into activity to the Towerof London.
With France in the brink ofcollapse, edward and England
secured the first piece of theconflict in 1360.
This tumultuous period laid thefoundation for the complex
geopolitical landscape intowhich Joan of Arc would later
(10:42):
emerge, marking a crucialchapter in the evolving history
of both nations.
The French would claw back someof their land from the English
in the subsequent decades, underthe leadership of Charles V,
but ultimately a stalemateremained.
It was now half-time in theHundred Years' War by 1415, the
(11:04):
Hundred Years' War resumedvigorously under the leadership
of the legendary Henry V, afigure who could merit a podcast
dedicated solely to hisexploits.
I should emphasize that I haveto find a way to do an episode
on Edward the Black Prince andon Henry V.
They are two of the mostremarkable medieval warlords of
(11:24):
all history.
Anyway, henry V brought thesuperior French forces to battle
at the Battle of Eggingcourt onOctober 1415.
The battle that unfolded wasone of the most improbable
victories in military history.
Despite being vastlyoutnumbered, with estimates as
disadvantageous as a five-to-oneadvantage to the French, the
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English emerged triumphant.
The aftermath of Eggingcourt wasdevastating for the French.
Over 10,000 soldiers laid death, including three dukes, seven
counts, the Constable of France,the commanding general of
French forces, the Admiral ofFrance and more than 90 other
lords, along with 1,500 knights.
(12:10):
In a single day, the flower ofthe French military was lost.
In addition, morale wascompletely set from the French.
The English, under theleadership of Henry V, seemed
invincible and for a time itseems like they were Discrushing
.
Defeat instilled a pervasivesense of defeatism and a lack of
(12:34):
belief in French ability toresist the English conquest.
The remnants of the Frenchkingdom, grappled with this grim
attitude onto the arrival ofour main protagonist, whose
extraordinary story wouldbreathe new life and hope into
the beleaguered kingdom.
As you can see, then, theHundred Years War sets the stage
(12:54):
for the complex and challengingenvironment into which our
central character, joan of Arc,emerges A backdrop of almost a
century of conflict, continuouswarfare and the devastating
impacts of campaigns up and downthe French countryside.
One of these campaign styles orways of making war was called a
chevrochet.
(13:14):
A chevrochet consisted ofessentially pillaging and
raiding all the areas that cameinto contact with the attacking
army.
Being a peasant in the 14th and15th century was no fun, but
imagine being one in France.
That must have been downrightdepressing.
The Kingdom of France was in astate of complete despair.
(13:38):
By 1420, the intricate Treaty ofTroyes essentially made Henry V
heir to the French throne.
While Charles VI was stillrecognized as the current King
of France, he was ill and alwaysstruggling with bouts of mental
and physical decline.
Every expectation was thatHenry would outlive the sickly
(13:59):
French king, thus making himKing of France.
Despite that and insurancepolicy, henry was also to be
married to Charles' daughter,and their offering would become
the rightful heir to theKingdoms of England and France.
In addition, the treaty madethe Daphan or the heir to the
French throne disowned.
(14:20):
His name was yes, you guessedit Charles.
He was the son of Charles VIand should have been the
rightful heir to the Frenchthrone, where it not for the
English and Henry V.
So it was to everyone'ssurprise, and Henry's in
particular, when he diedsuddenly in 1422, just before
(14:44):
Charles VI, who did follow himinto the grave.
Two months later, france wasleft in the midst of a dispute
for the throne.
Henry V's insurance policyworked and he was able to
conceive a child, now calledHenry VI and who had the nominal
claim as King of England andFrance.
The English allied with Burgundy, a significant French tuchy who
(15:07):
approved of the treaty andrecognized Henry VI's claim.
On the other side stood Charles, the French heir, and his
faction, which still controlleda significant portion of France
and continued to claim to be therightful lineage.
They were known as the Armanacs.
You see why this is where Gameof Thrones got its inspiration
(15:29):
who gets to sit the throne?
All at the center of thecontroversy.
For the purposes of avoidingfurther confusion, just know
that when we refer to theEnglish, going forward would
mean the English and theBurgundians, and when we mean
France, we mean those parts ofthe country still loyal to the
son of Charles VI and the heirof the French throne, also
(15:51):
called the Armanacs by 1428,.
The English are preparing tostrike what they hope will be a
final blow against the French.
Their objective is the city ofOrleans, which they besieged in
October 1428.
Taking Orleans would open upthe door to the remaining French
(16:11):
possessions.
It is here that we finally meetour protagonists.
And you may wonder why all thisbackground?
As I said before, without it,the impact the maid had on
France is hard to understand.
100 years of war, mostlyhumiliating defeats, a country
(16:32):
ransacked by the Chebyshe.
Oh, and don't forget the BlackDeath, which happened in the
late 1300s and decimated theFrench population.
Things seem to be againstFrance.
Joan of Arc's arrival becomes apivotal turning point,
injecting hope and courage intoa beleaguered nation.
(16:54):
Her extraordinary story unfoldsagainst this backdrop of
adversity and as we explore herlife, we'll witness how she
played a crucial role inreshaping the destiny of France.
For now, the Hundred Years War,which is not the topic of this
podcast, despite what you mightbelieve, will fade into the
background of our story.
We'll come back to the HundredYears War in another episode, I
(17:18):
am sure.
Near Orleans there was a smallvillage, one of the few that had
managed to resist Englishcontrol, at least on and off the
village of Don Remy.
The small village would come toplay a key role in the history
of France.
It is here where, sometime inthe years following the death of
Henry V, that a young girl willbegin hearing a calling from
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beyond, a calling which wouldchange France forever.
By now, almost a full centuryhad passed since hostilities had
first begun.
As we mentioned, france wasbeset by the English and their
Burgundian allies on the onehand, but ferocious infighting
brought about by the challengesof succession and the question
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of who should rule what was leftof the kingdom.
The world Joan entered andembroiled herself with could not
have been a more difficult one.
Looking at the state of affairswould have discouraged the most
capable of military leaders.
But how about a non-assumingpeasant, a young woman only a
young teenager at this point,involved in military affairs in
(18:28):
an age where this was not to be?
Where did she get her power?
Why did she do it?
She was clear as to where shegot her power.
She attributed her power toforces beyond our world, to
angels and saints, to GodHimself.
The waning French effort neededinspiration.
(18:49):
It needed a leader, and Joanwould prove to be all that and
then some more.
Joan was born in the smallvillage of Don Remy sometime in
1412, within the fringes of theEnglish and Burgundian dominated
regions of France, in otherwords, the parts not loyal to
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the French air.
Her early life appears to havebeen mostly unremarkable, with
an upbringing that resembledthat of most peasants of the
time.
She had three brothers and asister and was well versed in
the Christian religion of herparents and country.
The point to make here is thatthere is no indication that she
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was educated in military affairsor came from an overtly
political family.
She was, as I said before,rather unremarkable.
That is until she turned 13years old and began hearing what
she described as the voices ofangels and saints asking her to
embark on a mission to saveFrance.
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It is worth noting that duringthe time of her childhood,
perhaps due to the difficultsituation, france found itself
in several prophecies thatforetold of the arrival of a
virgin or a maid who woulddeliver France from the English
abounded.
There is no way to know ifthese prophecies influenced
(20:12):
Joan's visions later on, but itis possible that they had an
effect on the broader public,making it easier for them to
believe in the legitimacy of hercalling.
The mystery of what compelled ayoung peasant girl living on the
edge of a warren torn landscapeto embrace the cause of her
country remains elusive.
(20:32):
Some suggest that theories arethat she suffered a traumatic
brain injury.
Hysteria, or perhapsschizophrenia.
The truth is, we don't reallyknow.
What we do know is that shefirmly believed the voices she
heard were real.
Her unwavering dedication toher mission, even in the face of
(20:54):
the ultimate penalty death byburning which spoiler alert she
did endure when captured by theEnglish hamburgundians, reveals
an unshakable faith andconviction in her calling.
By the time her story andmission became widely known,
joan was only around 16 yearsold.
Imagine a teenage girl takingon the weight of a kingdom's
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destiny with a courage thattranscended her age.
It is a tale that straddles thethin line between the
inexplicable and theextraordinary.
Joan's audacious journey beganwith a mission straight from the
Divine Playbook.
She aimed to reach the DauphanCharles and unveil her celestial
calling.
The core elements of hermission were crystal clear Lift
(21:41):
the Siege of Orleans, escortCharles to Rance for his
coronation as the rightful kingof all France and reclaim Paris
and expel the English fromFrance.
Now getting an audience withCharles the heir was no walk in
the park.
Her first step involved seekingassistance from her uncle to
(22:03):
secure a meeting with aprominent captain in Charles's
army.
Despite being turned away up tothree times, jones' unwavering
persistence won hearts andgradually convinced those around
her of the authenticity of hercalling.
This relentless determinationpaid off, leading her on a
two-week journey to ChinangCastle to meet the future king.
(22:24):
On her way to Chinang, joandonned men's clothes for the
first time, a wardrobe choiceshe'd stick to for the rest of
her life.
Imagine the audacity a younggirl defying convention, clad in
armor and ready to challengethe course of history.
Jones' cross-dressing is asignificant aspect of her story
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and it is not to be understated.
It became one of the chargesbrought against her later on, a
claim used to label her as aheretic.
Interestingly, it's also amarker that some point to as
evidence of her being aproto-feminist.
For Joan herself, dressing as aman and adopting a male haircut
(23:06):
wasn't about making a statementon her sexuality, at least to
all indications.
Instead, it was a practicalchoice, a means to set herself
apart from other women of hertime.
Distinction was crucial for her, given the gravity of her holy
mission.
While we can't definitivelyknow her motivations,
(23:27):
cross-dressing may have played arole.
Consider the context, too, ofan era where rape and sexual
abuse were tragicallycommonplace, especially as forms
of military and extrajudicialpunishment.
Dressing as a man may haveserved as a protective measure,
helping Joan navigate thedangers she faced on her sacred
(23:48):
quest.
Upon meeting Charles, joan founda court in disarray, grappling
with timidity and indecision inthe face of English resistance.
The message she brought, one ofsalvation and divine mandate,
essentially asserting that Godwas on Francis' side, started to
transform the conflict thatshifted from a mere struggle
(24:11):
over dynastic claims andinheritance to one infused with
religious overtones, in a movethat was nothing short of
radical.
Joan's first request to Charleswas to be sent to Orléans with
soldiers to lift the siege.
Picture this again a young girldressed as a man, asking not
just to join the battle but tolead men into combat, or while
(24:34):
proclaiming to speak on behalfof God and angels.
It was as if an alien hadlanded in 15th century France.
The sheer improbability of itall might have been precisely
what turned skeptics intobelievers.
After her initial meeting withCharles, joan was taken to a
group of church authorities inPoitiers.
(24:55):
It was an ecclesiasticalcouncil set up to confirm the
truth of her story.
In addition, the prominentwomen of the court verified
whether Joan was indeed a maidor not.
With everyone satisfied, shewas sent, along with manned arms
, new plate of armor and her ownbanner, to Orléans to relieve
the siege.
(25:15):
Just a few months before, shehad been a peasant girl working
her family fields, and now shewas a military commander, clad
in armor and ready to embark onthe pivotal moments of her life.
In April 1429, joan and herrelief army made it to Orléans.
Despite the fact that she was awoman, the divine nature of her
(25:39):
mission had spread throughoutthe area, as a recruitment of
troops did not prove difficult.
Already, she was being cast assome sort of avatar in the saint
Her new army of some 10,000 men, made for Orléans proper and
fueled by an enthusiasm andenergy that had not been there
for almost two decades prior,since the rampaging arrival of
(26:00):
Henry V of French shores.
Initially, she was viewed as atotem or of inspiration, not to
be involved in the core of thefighting as she was given no
command and was to take no partin the council set up to discuss
the siege.
However, throughout the siegeshe earned her stripes on the
field.
She moved around the battle,embroiling herself where the
(26:23):
fighting was the worst.
She was wounded by an arrowabove her breast but kept
fighting.
In one particular incident,during the assault on an
surrounding fortress that wasgoing poorly for the French, she
rode to the spot of the assault, racing her banners and helping
in the charge that took thefortress.
Despite constant passivity andhesitation from other French
(26:44):
commanders, the maid keptencouraging the attack, urging
the French to keep up theassault.
It was in the final assaultagainst the last remaining
English stronghold where Joanwas wounded by an arrow.
By May 8, 1429, the English hadretreated.
The siege of Orleans was over.
Joan the maid, the teenagerwith the five deats, had been a
(27:09):
big part of the victory.
For their part, the English andBurgundians began to see Jones'
intervention as an act of evil,noting in their initial reports
that her success was due toEnchantment and Sorcery.
Surely, to them, the only wayshe was able to succeed was that
(27:31):
she was of the devil In Orleans, the city that she had helped
to rescue.
She would forever be placed ina place of honor, both in life
and even later after she died.
From this point forward, shewould always be known as Joan
the Maid of Orleans.
Following the victory in Orleans, joan and the newly invigorated
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French army embarked on acampaign to reconquist the Loire
Valley from the English.
The purpose of this was toachieve the second part of her
mission the coronation ofCharles as Charles VII in France
.
At the towns of the Loire.
The Maid once again insertedherself in the thickest part of
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the fighting, constantly racingher banner and urging the men on
in the midst of the fray.
While she offered encouragementand inspiration, she also
fought, and as a commander sheopted for speed and relentless
attack as the way to dislodgethe English and their allies.
At Jargo, she was again brieflywounded by a stone, which
(28:32):
dropped over her head and splither helmet.
Yet she persisted, encouragingthose around her to continue the
attack.
An important aspect of herparticipation throughout the
campaign was her emphasis onspeed and daring in the pursuit
of the English.
Countless times she was facedwith the timid French commanders
(28:53):
who wished to rest, taketactical breaks or expected to
assess more before attacking.
Time and again she advocatedfor faster action and for
constant pursuit.
From a purely tacticalperspective, this was inspired
guidance which allowed theFrench to build on their
momentum.
All of these battles culminatedin the Battle of Patay, where
(29:16):
the French defeated the reliefEnglish army sent from Paris.
The way to Rance was finallyopened In an astonishing four
months.
Joan's courage, leadership andencouragement had managed to
turn French fortunes From the17th of July 1429, charles VII
(29:36):
was crowned and consecrated asKing of France in Ross.
Just as Joan had foretold inher visions, despite divisions
in the French court, frenchforces attacked Paris on
September 8.
As before, joan rode ahead andinserted herself in the hardest
fighting.
She was wounded in the leg by acrossbow bolt and had to be
(29:58):
rescued after the assault byhiding in a trench for the day.
The realities of combat werestarting to catch up to her
visions.
Amazingly, she would remaindefiant and committed throughout
, regardless of the personaldangers that she faced.
Despite her further urgings, theattack on Paris was finally
abandoned and Joan's tature inthe court of the king she helped
(30:21):
to crown began to falter.
She continued to remaincommitted to her king and the
kingdom even after her rolebecame more secondary Because of
the defeat in Paris.
Rumblings began that perhapsher mission was not divine after
all.
Shortly after this, she wassent with a force to battle a
(30:41):
French mercenary who had foughtfor the English and the
Burgundians.
Once again, joan's force wasdefeated and her status
diminished even further when, bythe end of 1429, charles signed
a four-month truce with theBurgundians.
With her role diminished, joanremained impassive, seeking to
(31:01):
advance against the enemies ofFrance.
This led to her violation ofthe truce between France and
Burgundy and her attack againstBurgundy in Compiants.
The attack failed and she wasunable to muster enough forces
for the attack until she wascaptured by the Burgundians.
She did attempt to escape twice, once jumping from a window and
(31:22):
falling on a dry moat, but shewas unsuccessful.
The Burgundians negotiated withthe English and sold her for
10,000 pounds.
The English rejoiced at havingremoved her as a military threat
from the field, that sheremained too dangerous to be
left alive, and so what wouldfollow would be a shameful show
(31:42):
trial in Rome.
It was January 1431 and she wasonly 18 or 19 years old by this
time.
Joan of Arc was put on trial forheresy, blasphemy, for wearing
men's clothes and for havingdemonic visions, because she
claimed to be on a mission fromGod, validated by her results,
(32:05):
namely the crowning of CharlesVII.
It was important to the Englishto invalidate her visions or
religious grounds, becauseotherwise the assumed truth
would be that the English werein France unlawfully and that
their century-long claim had novalidity in the eyes of God.
Remember, during this time ofhuman and European history,
god's opinion of your actionswas as important as anything
(32:28):
else, in some cases moreimportant.
To this end, the trial became aseries of religious accusations
fueled by the hatred theEnglish felt towards Joan.
She remained defiant, affirmingthat she could not be judged by
anyone else but God.
The trial, although French inname, was bought and paid for by
the English, with most of theparticipants being pro-English
(32:52):
or pro-Burkandy.
The trial of Joan of Arc is oneof the better documented
episodes of medieval history.
A lot of what we know about hercomes from her testimony during
the trial.
It is clear that she remainedcomposed and firmly committed to
the supernatural qualities ofher mission.
Her defiance made her accuseher flirt with torture, but
(33:15):
ultimately they decided againstit.
At the conclusion of the trial,joan was made to sign a
document where she agreed not tobear arms against England or
wear men's clothes.
Finally, the last few weeks ofher life passed as violent and
sad chapters, as her captorstaunted her, beat her and
harassed her.
(33:35):
Knowing that the punishment foran unrepentant heretic was
death, joan was given men'sclothes by her English captors.
Facing the constant threat ofrape and beatings, joan resumed
wearing men's clothes as a formof protection and comfort.
In addition, joan recanted herconfession, said that the vision
and voices had encouraged hernot to renounce her mission or
(33:58):
her quest ever again, and sheagreed.
This was enough to label her anunrepentant heretic and thus
sentence her to death.
On May 30th 1431, the19-year-old Joan was put to
death by burning in themarketplace of Rang by the
English.
The remains were thrown intothe river nearby.
(34:20):
She had died defiant the wayshe had lived, and from this
point forward, her legend wouldonly grow.
Her victories and encouragementhad changed the nature of the
conflict and by 1435, theBurgundians had abandoned their
alliance with the English.
22 years after her death, theinterminable 100 years of war
(34:46):
finally came to an end with theFrench victory at the Battle of
Castillon.
It would be bold to claim thatthe war ended because of Joan,
but her life and example changedthe kinetic energy of the
conflict deriving an ultimateFrench victory, the English were
ultimately expelled from France, with Calais remaining the only
(35:07):
tow-hole left.
In 1455, a second trial of Joan, called the Rehabilitation
Trial, sought to undo most ofthe findings of the first trial.
This resulted in her sentencebeing nullified completely.
Over the centuries and decadesthat followed, joan remained a
potent symbol of God's favorover France and his overall
(35:29):
sponsorship of the French cause.
It was not until the early daysof the French Revolution that
her figure suffered minortarnishing for its association
with the French monarchy.
By the time our friend Napoleoncame to the scene, he restored
her image, fully crediting heras an icon of French ingenuity
and military prowess.
(35:50):
From that point forward, shehas been all things to all
people in France a symbol of thefree French during World War II
, but also one of fishy France.
She has recently even become asymbol of the French far right,
with its populist andnationalist overtones
intertwined with the story ofthe maid.
(36:12):
When I began this projectseeking to understand the
blueprint of nations, it wasalways with the hopes of
uncovering stories like that ofJoan of Arc.
She is the embodiment of France, and traces of her DNA permeate
the blueprint of the Frenchnation.
Like old, powerful symbols, shewill be appropriated by those
seeking to use her as one thingor the other, but she withstands
(36:35):
the test and continues toresist in her own way.
Joan of Arc holds a profoundsignificance in French history,
embodying the spirit ofresilience, courage and national
identity of the nation.
Her unwavering determinationduring the Hundred Years War,
her role in lifting the Siege ofOrleans and her eventual
(36:56):
martyrdom have elevated her to asymbol of French patriotism.
Joan of Arc is seen as aunifying force, transcending
historical and culturalboundaries, representing the
enduring spirit of Franceagainst adversity.
She remains a cultural andhistorical icon, inspiring
(37:16):
generations with her remarkablestory of bravery and conviction.
Thank you once again for joiningus on this captivating journey.
Don't forget to like and sharethe podcast.
While the tale of France is farfrom complete, we're now
(37:37):
venturing below the equator.
For the first time.
In the podcast, we're nowventuring ourselves in the
stories of leaders who've woventhe fabric of nations.
Our next destination SouthAfrica.
Here we'll unravel the legaciesof two influential leaders,
beginning with the timelessMediba, nelson Mandela.
As we bid adieu to France fornow, keep that spirit of
(38:01):
exploration alive, stay curious,keep learning and join us next
time on Double Helix Blueprintof Nations.
Until then, happy exploring.
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