Biography of Jeanne D. Joan of Arc - the national heroine of France

- Joan of Arc, whose biography the whole world knows and about which much is still not known reliably. There is controversy around her birth: some are inclined to think that she illegitimate daughter a high-ranking courtier; they also argue about her death: there is a point of view that it was not Zhanna who was burned - as if she was secretly taken away on the eve of her execution.
But be that as it may, the most mysterious thing is not birth and death, but its main mission: the salvation of France by the command of God himself. How else can one explain the incomprehensible courage of a young village girl in those days, who was ordered to go further than the kitchen - not a step?

The events associated with Jeanne took place in the endless era. France was on the verge of political death: against the backdrop of the complete anarchy of the legitimate king (he suffered from deep insanity), both political groups and England itself, represented by the king, fought for control of the country. The legitimate heir to the French throne, Dauphin Charles, barely managed to escape, fleeing to the south of the country. The subjugation of France was successfully completed by the British - only the brave city of Orleans, which was under siege, but still holding out, blocked the path to complete victory.

And at this most difficult time for the country, Joan of Arc appears on the forefront of History. She herself said that at the age of 13 she heard the voices of the celestials, who revealed to her her appointment as the savior of the king and the kingdom. But only at the age of 17 she first announced this a year later, at the age of 18, she was finally believed, and Jeanne was able to go to the king, accompanied by a detachment of soldiers and dressed in men's clothes, which she wore until her death.After numerous lengthy checks, Dauphin Charles decided to entrust Joan with the post of commander in chief of the army.Having received, as a sign of military supreme power, the banner and banner, armor and sword of Charlemagne himself, she led the army to Orleans.

As a messenger of God, Jeanne aroused admiration and admiration among the soldiers and commanders - everyone experienced extraordinary enthusiasm, completely confident in God's help. And a miracle happened: Jeanne and her army completed the almost impossible task of liberating Orleans in 4 days - the British lifted the siege of the city. Until now, in Orleans, May 8th is celebrated as the most main holiday: France remembers on this day its savior - the Virgin of Orleans.

The Loire River, with strategically important castles located on its banks, was also in the hands of the British. By June 18, the enemies were finished: English army suffered a crushing defeat in battles with the French army, led by Joan of Arc.
The path to Reims, where the chrismation of Dauphin Charles was to take place, lay before the future king wide and free: every city on this path gladly opened the gates to meet Charles and his army. The nation rallied together, an unprecedented upsurge of the national spirit brought to life an extraordinary thirst for the revival of the country, and Jeanne urged the king to take advantage of the situation and march on Paris. However, the intrigues of envious people did their job, and hostilities were hampered by conflicting orders from the king. And on May 23, 1430, as a result of betrayal, Jeanne d "Arc was captured by the Burgundians, allies of England. King Charles VII, who owed so much to Jeanne, did not lift a finger to save her. The British, who bought Jeanne for 10,000 livres in gold, took her to Rouen.

The accusatory process of the English Inquisition and the vile condemnation of Jeanne to be burned alive are evidence of the black ingratitude of France and the unprincipled political order of England.
The amazing courage of the girl, her confidence in the answers and strong will were not broken, despite the terrible conditions of detention and the threat of torture.
Dying at the stake, she turned to Jesus. France still believes today that Joan is exactly where Jesus is - in Heaven.

25 years after the burning of the Virgin of Orleans, King Charles VII, having achieved full recovery France as a state, remembered Jeanne (apparently, his conscience woke up). A new trial was scheduled. Her mother, relatives and numerous residents of her native places, as well as soldiers from her army, were still alive. The unanimous testimonies of the witnesses refuted every point of accusing the Inquisition of Joan's heretical delusions. The indictment against the national heroine was decided to be considered invalid, her good name was restored. And almost 500 years later Catholic Church canonized the Virgin of Orleans, recognizing her as a saint.

The sacrificial image of Joan of Arc inspired many women and men to perform feats in the name of a lofty goal, but each of them carried his own cross ...

Jeanne d'Arc, the Virgin of Orleans (Jeanne d "Arc, January 6, 1412 - May 30, 1431) is the most famous historical figure in France. In the Hundred Years War, she acted as commander-in-chief, but was captured by the Burgundians and, by order of the king, was transferred As a result of a religious accusation, d'Arc was burned at the stake, and later rehabilitated and even canonized.

Childhood

Jeanne or Jeanette - as the girl called herself - was born in 1412 in the small village of Domremy, located on the border of Lorraine and Champagne. It is not known for certain who her parents were, since some sources claim that they were of the poorest origin, while others are of a quite prosperous status.

The situation is the same with the date of birth of Jeanette herself: the parish book contains an entry from 1412 about the birth of a girl, which was considered for a long time exact date her coming into being. However, on January 6, 1904, when Pope Pius X canonized d'Arc, he indicated the year 1409/1408, thereby refuting the previous information.

ABOUT early childhood Jeanne is practically unknown. Only a few entries in her parents' diaries have survived that the girl was born very weak and often sick. At the age of four, she caught a bad cold and was between life and death for about a month.

And since at that time people could not yet prepare potent drugs, parents could only pray for the successful recovery of the child. Fortunately, a few months later, d'Arc fully recovered from her illness, but remained secretive and silent throughout her life.

Youth

At the age of thirteen, according to Jeanette herself, she first saw the Archangel Michael. The girl could only tell her parents about her visions, since she had no friends. But the relatives did not recognize what d'Arc said, attributing everything to Jeanne's fantasy and her desire to "acquire at least fictional friends."

But a few months later, d'Arc again tells his parents that he saw the Archangel Michael and two other women (according to scientists, these were Saints Margaret of Antioch and Catherine of Alexandria). According to the girl, the “guests” who appeared told her about her mission: to lift the siege of the city of Orleans, driving out the invaders forever, and to elevate the Dauphin to the throne.

Not having received proper support from relatives, Joan of Arc goes to Captain Robert de Bondicourt, who at that time was the manager of the city of Vaucouleurs. There, the girl tells her story, but, unfortunately, she sees an absolutely identical situation: the captain only laughs at her unhealthy fantasy and sends her back, not even wanting to listen to the end. Jeanette, annoyed by such an attitude towards her person, goes to her native Domremy, but does not give up.

A year later, the situation repeats itself: she again comes to the captain, claiming the possibility of winning the battle only if he appoints her as a commander. Decisive is the prediction of d'Arc about the outcome of the so-called "Battle of Herring", which should take place in the near future under the walls of the city of Orleans.

This time, de Bondicourt listens to the words of the girl and decides to allow her to participate in the battle. Jeanette is given men's clothing (which, by the way, she then began to prefer to numerous dresses, stating that such an image not only helps in battle, but also discourages attention from the soldiers) and is equipped along with a small detachment. It is to him that two of d'Arc's best friends subsequently join: the knights Bertrand de Pulangy and Jean de Metz.

Participation in battles

As soon as the detachment was fully equipped, Jeanette led the people behind her. For 11 days they traveled to Chinon, where the warlike woman planned to enlist the support of the Dauphin. Entering the city, she declared to the ruler that she was "sent by Heaven in order to liberate Orleans and bring peace and tranquility", and also demanded his support and provision of her army. But, despite the noble aspirations of d'Arc, King Charles hesitated for a long time whether to place his best warriors under her command.

For several weeks, he tested Jeanne d'Arc: theologians interrogated her, the messengers sought information about her at home on the orders of the king, the woman underwent numerous tests. But not a single fact was found that could discredit the name of d'Arc, after which active army was completely transferred to her for command.

With the army, the young military leader goes to Blois, where she joins with another part of the army. The news that they are now commanded by a "messenger of God" causes an unprecedented morale in the soldiers. On April 29, troops under the command of d'Arc penetrate Orleans. After short battles, in which the active army loses only two, on May 4, Jeanette liberates the fortress of Saint-Loup.

Thus, a mission that is impossible for numerous military leaders is carried out without much effort by a woman in just 4 days. For such merits, Jeanne d'Arc receives the title of "Maid of Orleans", and May 8 is appointed an official holiday (by the way, it exists to this day).

Prosecution and inquisitorial process

In the autumn of the same year, immediately after the coronation of Charles, Joan of Arc, with his support, launched an attack on Paris, where at that time confusion and chaos reigned because of the desire of the English military leaders to independently command the remaining troops. However, a month later, the king, for unknown reasons, orders a retreat and, forced to obey Jeanne, leaves the army in the Loire.

Immediately after this, a message arrives about the capture of the city of Compiègne by the Burgundians, and d'Arc rushes to liberate it without even asking the consent of the new king. As a result, luck turns away from the "Maid of Orleans" and she is captured by the Burgundians, from where neither King Charles nor other influential people can save her.

On February 21, 1431, the inquisitorial hearing of Joan of Arc began, which the Burgundians, without hiding their involvement in the process, accused of heresy and disobedience to existing church canons. Jeanette was credited with both intercourse with the devil and disregard for church canons, but the woman denied any negative statements addressed to her.

Such courageous behavior only delayed the decision of the church to burn d'Arc, because, in this case, she would become a martyr and, perhaps, would encourage the people to revolt. That is why church ministers go to meanness: d’Arc is brought to the “fire that is being prepared for her” and, in exchange for life, they offer to sign a paper with a request to transfer her to a church prison because she is aware of what she has done and wants to atone for her guilt.

A woman not taught to read signs a paper, which is then replaced with another one - in which it is written about Jeanette's full recognition of everything that she was accused of. Thus, d'Arc, with his own hand, signs the verdict of burning, which is carried out on May 30, 1431, in the square of the city of Rouen.

Posthumous justification

For the next 20 years, Joan of Arc was practically not remembered, and only by 1452, King Charles VII, knowing about the exploits of a courageous girl, decided to find out the whole truth about the high-profile case of the past. He ordered to collect all the documents and find out in all details the essence and conduct of the trial of Jeanette.

To collect all necessary information manuscripts of church books were raised, surviving witnesses of that time were interviewed, and even messengers were sent to Domremy - the homeland of the "Maid of Orleans". By 1455, it was absolutely clear that monstrous violations of the law were committed during the hearing of the d'Arc case, and the girl herself was indeed innocent.

The restoration of the noble name of Joan of Arc took place in three cities at once: Orleans, Paris and Rouen. Documents about her alleged involvement in the devil and the illegality of her actions were publicly torn in front of a crowd in the city square (by the way, among which were Jeanne's friends and her mother). On July 7, 1456, the case was closed, and the good name of the girl was restored. And in 1909, Pope Pius X declared Jeanne blessed, after which a solemn canonization took place.

young french woman Joan of Arc managed to turn the tide of the 100-year war, and led the French troops under her banner to victory. She managed to do what many experienced French commanders considered impossible - to defeat the British.

Short biography of Joan of Arc

The official date of birth of Jeanne d'Arc is considered January 6, 1412(there are 2 more dates - January 6, 1408 and 1409). She was born in the French village of Domremy into a wealthy peasant family.

Voice of Archangel Michael

When Joan of Arc turned 13 years, she, according to her, heard the voice of the Archangel Michael, who told her about the great mission: Jeanne was supposed to break the siege of Orleans by the British and win the battle.

Persistent girl

The visions were repeated at 16 the girl went to one of the captains of the French army - Robert de Baudricourt. She told about her visions and asked to give her people under command and escort to the court of the Dauphin (heir to Charles VI).

Joan of Arc's insistence got the better of the captain's taunts, and he gave her people to accompany her to the king, and also supplied men's clothing so as not to "embarrass the soldiers."

Meeting with the king

March 14, 1429 Jeanne arrived at the residence of the Dauphin Charles - the castle Chinon. She announced to him that she was sent by Heaven to liberate the country from English domination and asked for troops in order to lift the siege of Orleans.

In France, there was a belief that a young virgin sent by God would help the army win the war.

The girl amazed the courtiers and the king himself with her skill riding and art possession of weapons. There was an impression that she was brought up not in a peasant family, but "in special schools."

Jeanne - Commander-in-Chief

After the matrons confirmed Jeanne's virginity and numerous other checks were made, Karl made a decision make her commander in chief with his troops, and lead them to Orleans.

After that, armor was made for the girl and delivered at her request. sword of Charlemagne himself, which was kept in the church of Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois. Then she went to the city of Blois, appointed as a collection point for the army, and already at the head of the army set out for Orleans.

"Maid of Orleans"

The news that the army was led by a messenger of God caused an extraordinary moral upsurge in the army. Hopeless commanders and soldiers, tired of endless defeats, were inspired and regained courage.

April 29, 1429 Jeanne d'Arc enters Orleans with a small detachment. On May 4, her army won its first victory, taking the bastion Saint-Loup. Victories followed one after another, and already on the morning of May 8, the British were forced to lift the siege from the city.

Thus, the task that other French military leaders considered impossible, Joan of Arc decided in four days. After the victory at Orleans, Jeanne was nicknamed "Maid of Orleans". Day 8 May is celebrated every year in Orleans as the main holiday of the city.

With the help of Jeanne, several more important fortresses were captured. The French army recaptured one city after another.

Betrayal and burning

spring 1430 after a year's absence of hostilities due to the indecision of Charles VII and palace intrigues, Joan of Arc again led the troops, her banner was in front. She rushed to the aid of the besieged city compiegnu, but fell into a trap - a bridge was raised in the city, and she could no longer escape from it.

The Burgundians sold it to the English for 10,000 gold livres. In February 1431, in Rouen, a trial took place over her, which sentenced her as a heretic to be burned. The verdict entered into force May 30, 1431 Joan of Arc was burned alive in the Old Market Square.

Rehabilitation and canonization

At the end of the Hundred Years' War, Charles VII ordered an investigation into the legality of the trial of the young heroine. It was established that the English court had many gross violations.

Joan of Arc rehabilitated summer 1456, and after 548 years - in 1920 she was canonized (canonized) in the Catholic Church.

The Virgin of Orleans is striking to such an extent that some doubt: was it really so? Without a doubt, it was. There is a lot of evidence for this in historical sources: chronicles, letters, court records, preserved both in France and in England.

Entire libraries of scientific papers and literary texts have been written about Joan of Arc. Anatole France wrote about Jeanne; extremely subjective, but no less interesting for that - Voltaire. And the controversy surrounding the identity of the amazing French heroine does not subside.

Her life in history is less than 3 years - a rather short period. However, these 3 years made her immortal.

She was amazing. Although the impression sometimes created by school textbooks is absolutely wrong, as if she defeated the British. No, not only she, but France as a whole did not defeat the British in those years in the Hundred Years War. It happened later. It is also not true that Jeanne d'Arc led the popular movement. No, there was nothing like that. She was the commander of the king.

She was supposedly born on January 6, 1412. As always in the Middle Ages, the date of birth is inaccurate. But it is tragically indisputable that this very young girl burned on May 30, 1431 in the square in Rouen.

After her death, scandalous rumors repeatedly arose, impostors appeared who called themselves after her. This is natural. Jeanne is too pure, too light image, which seems ideal. And people, apparently, have a base need in nature - to throw a clod of dirt into this purity.

Sadly, the great Voltaire was the first to throw dirt. It seemed ridiculous to him - a girl (a virgin in a more accurate translation from Latin), a symbol of purity, surrounded by soldiers. However, if you look more closely at her life, you can find an explanation for everything.

Jeanne comes from the village of Domremy. By origin she is a peasant woman, a shepherdess. Her last name is Dark; the spelling d'Arc, indicating nobility, appeared later. Some of those who attack Joan in our time simply do not want to recognize the historical role of a man of the people. That is why her peasant origin was repeatedly questioned. Versions have appeared that she is the illegitimate daughter of the depraved Queen Isabella, sent to the village as a baby.

Meanwhile, in the process of rehabilitation of Joan of Arc, a lot of evidence was collected. Eyewitnesses reported about her childhood, youth, about how she took part in all village holidays, when the girls led round dances.

Jeanne was born during the Hundred Years War, three years before the resumption of this great confrontation between the two leading Western European kingdoms. Officially, the war has been going on since 1337. There were several major battles - and all were unsuccessful for the French. 1340 - the defeat of the French fleet at Sluys, 1346 - the defeat of the French army in a foot battle at Crecy, 1356 - the victory of a smaller English detachment under the command of the Black Prince Edward over the army of the French king at Poitiers. The French army fled in disgrace, the king was captured. The feeling of national disgrace grew stronger in the country.

Immediately after the battle of Poitiers, the idea of ​​a man from a simple environment appeared among the people, who should bring salvation. In one of the chronicles there is a story about a certain peasant who crossed all of France. The fact is that an angel appeared to him in a dream and ordered him to go to the king, to tell him not to accept the battle at Poitiers. Surprisingly, the peasant actually managed to get to the king, got into his tent. The king listened and said: “No, I am a knight! I can't cancel the fight."

1360 - the most difficult peace for France was concluded in Bretigny: according to it, approximately half of the French lands were under the rule of England. There was a threat to the very existence of the French kingdom and the Valois dynasty - a side branch of the Capetians who ruled the country from the 9th century. This ancient, stable, strong, once solid kingdom could simply disappear!

So, France is almost gone. At the same time, many of the major feudal lords recognized Henry V as the future king of France. Some became his allies, such as the Duke of Burgundy.

Meanwhile, the girl Zhanna was growing up in her village. She was 13 years old when she first heard the voices of St. Catherine, St. Margaret and St. Michael, who began to convey to her the will of God, connected with the salvation of the country. That she heard voices is not at all unique. There is such a phenomenon - medieval visionaryism.

Visions, voices from above are quite real for a man of the Middle Ages, with his inability and unwillingness to separate the heavenly life, the other world, and the here, earthly life with impenetrable borders. For him, all this is whole, one. For example, at the court of the Dauphin Charles, who did not go into exile, but settled in the south-west of France, they willingly accepted and loved all kinds of sorcerers and prophets. In general, this figure is not so unusual for the era.

Legally, the King of England already held sway over France. But the French did not obey! Dauphin Charles declared that he was the rightful heir, and his supporters crowned him at Poitiers. This was not the traditional coronation, which, according to the centuries-old tradition, is held in Reims Cathedral, where the sacred oil is kept for the anointing of kings. And yet, the hopes of those who were infinitely dear to the already born concept of "France" rushed to Charles. Not quite legitimate king became the center of patriotic forces.

And here are 16 summer girl In May 1428, Jeanne, accompanied by a distant relative, came to the commandant of the nearest fortress, Vaucouleur Baudricourt, and said that she needed to go to the Dauphin Charles, because she had an assignment from God. First, she must meet with the Dauphin and obtain the right to lift the siege of Orleans. Secondly, to achieve the coronation of the heir in Reims. God's will- recognize the legitimacy of its origin. It was impossible to provide him with more moral support at that moment. After all, for him the main question is whose son he is, the king or not.

Initially, Baudricourt refuses, considering all this to be complete nonsense. But the girl was still standing under his windows in a red dress (it seems that she was the only one).

After that, the commandant of the fortress listened to her again. She spoke simply, but there was something of genius in the clarity of her answers, in her conviction. And Baudricourt may have heard that prophets are loved in the court of the Dauphin. This gave him a chance: what if he was noticed if he could help this girl. Although it is possible that he really believed her. Something extraordinary emanated from her - thousands of people were soon convinced of this.

Jeanne was given an escort, and she went to Charles, with whom an audience was obtained. There were many people in the hall where she was brought. Carl wanted her to be able to determine for herself who the Dauphin was.

And she recognized him. How could this happen to a simple peasant woman?

Be that as it may, a short private conversation took place between the Dauphin and Jeanne. And after that, he agreed that a special commission would check her, which would make sure that she was not the messenger of Satan.

A commission of theologians met in Poitiers and talked with Joan. They also checked that she was a virgin. This was especially important. IN mass consciousness there was such an idea: a woman will destroy France, and a girl will save.

Where does this show come from? The country is a monarchist, moving towards absolutism, the role of the royal entourage is growing. Several stories from the time of the Hundred Years War were associated by the people with the bad influence of women on kings.

The wife of Charles VI is Isabella of Bavaria. A foreigner, which is not good. The husband is insane. The ideal behavior of the wife is hardly possible. It is difficult to say whether she was so depraved or simply politically chose the Duke of Orleans as her supporter. The Treaty of Troyes also inspired Isabella. She was able to persuade her husband to sign this terrible document. And the rumor kept repeating: women are ruining France.

And save the girl. These ideas have biblical origins: the Mother of God is a symbol of purity, purity.

In the most difficult moments life, Christians turn to its image. By the time Jeanne appeared at the court of the Dauphin Charles, there were already a lot of records about the Virgin in the chronicles. People were waiting for her to appear. This is a case of mass emotional belief - a manifestation of the "collective unconscious", as the representatives of the French historical Annales School called it.

Joan led the lifting of the siege of Orléans. She fought fearlessly. A small figure in light armor, which was made especially for her, was the first to storm the small fortresses around Orleans. In these fortresses (they were called bastides), the British besieged the city. Jeanne was the perfect target for them. During the capture of the bastide of Turelli, she was wounded, an arrow hit her right shoulder. Jeanne fell, to the delight of her enemies.

But she immediately demanded that the arrow be removed, and again rushed into battle. And yet her courage is not the main thing. Her opponents the English are also medieval people. They believed that the Virgin was able to work miracles. There are many records of such "miracles". So, when Joan of Arc with a small guard was heading to the court of the Dauphin, it was necessary to cross the river, but he got up strong wind. Jeanne said: we must wait a little, the wind will change. And the wind changed its direction. Could this be? Certainly! But people explain everything by a miracle in which they always want to believe.

The presence of Joan of Arc gave rise to an unprecedented enthusiasm of the French troops. The soldiers and their commanders (for example, the Duke of Alencon, who firmly believed in the mission of the Virgin) were literally reborn. They were able to drive the British out of the bastide, breaking the ring of siege. Everyone knew what Jeanne said about the path that leads to the liberation of France: "Soldiers must fight, and God will grant them victory."

Quite the opposite changes took place in the military army. The British were shocked by the unexpected and such a rapid change in military happiness, they began to believe in the divine will, acting on the side of the French. Rumors spread that even at the beginning of the siege, God indicated to the British the need to leave the walls of the city by allowing the ridiculous death of the commander-in-chief, the famous commander Earl of Salisbury. The popular military leader covered with glory did not die in battle. He was killed by a cannonball during a skirmish near the walls of Orleans.

1429, May 8 - the siege of Orleans was lifted, the city was liberated. The first paragraph of the commission received by Joan of Arc from above has been fulfilled.

Since that time, Jeanne d'Arc has been the official commander of the king. She is in her light armor, with a sword, which was miraculously found in the altar, with a white banner - a symbol of purity. True, in France White color also a symbol of mourning.

The second point remains. And Joan leads King Charles VII to Reims. The gates of the cities occupied by the British are opened for her, the keys are carried out, crowds of people run out to meet her. If this does not happen, her army takes the fight. Jeanne was surrounded by commanders who believed in her - excellent warriors who had a lot of experience. And these two forces united - spiritual and purely military.

The coronation took place in Reims. How many pictures have been written on this topic! Each era depicts this event in its own way. But, apparently, there is no doubt that Joan of Arc stood next to the king, now the rightful Charles VII. She rode with him through the streets of Reims, and in the cries of the crowd "Long live the Virgin!" sounded more often than "Long live the king!". Not every person can stand it, especially one like Karl, who longs for self-affirmation after for long years humiliation.

Probably, at this moment of victory and glory, Joan of Arc should have returned home. But she didn't want to. Her statement is known: “I must fight to the end. It's noble." She sincerely believed it. And started the capture of Paris.

Here is the beginning of the tragedy. Not because it was militarily impossible. Simply by that time, the king had already become hostile to her: he did not want Paris to be liberated by the hands of some peasant woman.

It is significant that Joan of Arc did not ask the king for anything for herself - only tax exemptions for the inhabitants of her native village. And even this privilege was not given forever: then the zoning was changed, the boundaries were clarified - and that's it, the peasants from Domremy lost all the advantages.

For herself, Jeanne did not need anything - only to fight on. It should be noted that at that moment she moved on to that part of her activity that was not prescribed to her from above.

The battle for Paris took place. The British resisted fiercely. According to one version, they heard rumors that Zhanna had lost her virginity and now they are not afraid. But the main thing is that in the midst of the assault, the king gave the order to blow the all-clear signal. The commanders could not disobey the order of the king. The assault failed, and Joan of Arc was wounded in the thigh. Enemies gloated: she is not invulnerable! But she never declared herself invulnerable.

After this failure, Jeanne felt that everything had changed, she was being squeezed out: they didn’t listen, they didn’t invite her to the military council. And in April 1430 she left the court. She joined the army, which recaptured castles and fortresses from the British in the Loire River valley.

1430, May 23 - near the city of Compiègne, she was captured. The portcullis dropped in front of her as she returned to the city after her sortie. She fell into the hands of the Burgundians. In December they resold her to the British. It is not known for sure whether Joan of Arc was betrayed at Compiègne. But there is no doubt that she was betrayed earlier - near Paris, as they were betrayed later, when they did not try to recapture or redeem from the British.

The English decided to try Joan, accusing her of serving the devil. Charles VII was afraid to offer a ransom for her. Apparently, he allowed that she would tremble, renounce, admit that she was from the devil. Then from whose hands did he receive the crown?

The most difficult process lasted from January to May 1431. The investigation was headed by the French bishop Cauchon, translated from French as “pig”. Since that time, the word "cauchon" has been associated in France with the theme of national betrayal. An unjust church court found her guilty of heresy.

She was able to maintain her convictions, her belief that she was the messenger of God, although there was a moment when she faltered. She was ready to admit that she had sinned because she wore men's suit. At the trial, she very cleverly answered, "being all the time among men, where it is much more decent to be in a man's suit."

After 20 s extra years, in 1456, Charles VII, who continued to fight with the British and went down in history as the Winner (by the 50s of the 15th century, the British were ousted from France), organized the process of rehabilitation of Joan of Arc. Now he had to fix the bright image of the Virgin in the memory of generations. Numerous witnesses were called, who spoke about her life, her purity. A verdict has been passed - to annul the conviction of Joan of Arc as unfounded. And in 1920, the Catholic Church canonized her as a saint.

Today we understand that it is during short life Jeanne took shape and rose to its feet the French nation. As well as the French monarchy. And Voltaire did not like Jeanne precisely because he saw in her a desperate champion of the monarchy, not realizing that in the Middle Ages the king and the nation, the king and France were one and the same. And Joan of Arc forever gave us a beautiful luminous point of her life, unique as a masterpiece of art.

JOAN OF ARC(Jeanne d "Arc) (c. 1412–1431), a saint, a national heroine of France, nicknamed the Maid of Orleans, was born, possibly on January 6, 1412, in the village of Domremy on the Meuse River, in northeastern France. Jeanne was the daughter of a wealthy peasant Jacques d "Ark and his wife Isabella. She was endowed with a sharp mind and the ability to persuade, she had common sense, but she did not receive a book education. Jeanne was proud of the household skills she had received from her mother, who had taught her to spin, sew, and pray. From childhood, she was accustomed to fights and battles, since the English and Burgundian troops, acting in concert, now and then ravaged the area around Domremy, which remained loyal to the royal house of Valois. The Burgundians responded to the treacherous murder on September 10, 1419 by the Armagnacs of their leader, the Duke of Burgundy John the Fearless (the Dauphin Charles was suspected of being involved in this crime), by arranging a peace treaty in Troyes in 1420, which was concluded between the mentally ill French king Charles VI and the king of England Henry V. Two years later, both kings died, and, in accordance with the treaty, the infant Henry VI, son of Henry V, became king of both states. A skilled warrior and politician, the Duke of Bedford, uncle of the king and regent, led the advance of the English and Burgundian troops to the Loire. In 1428 they reached Orleans and began their siege. Dauphin Charles, under the influence of Armagnacs, was recognized as king in the south and south-west of the country, but he did nothing either to assert his royal powers or to support the emerging national movement against the British.

The village of Domremy and the whole area of ​​Champagne remained loyal to Charles due to the fact that a detachment of royal troops was stationed nearby in Vaucouleurs. From the age of 13, Jeanne heard "voices" and had visions in which her beloved saints and many angels appeared to her, prompting her to save France. She said that with the beginning of the siege of Orleans, the voices became louder and ordered her to go to Orleans and lift the siege, and then take the Dauphin to Reims to be crowned there in accordance with the tradition of French kings. In February 1429, Jeanne appeared to Robert de Baudricourt, captain of the royal detachment in Vaucouleurs. Finally believing in Jeanne's sacred mission (this was already her third visit, the first two were in May 1428 and January 1429), Baudricourt gave her several people to accompany her, and Jeanne in men's clothes, borrowed from one of them, Jean Nouyonpont (Jean from Metz), went to the headquarters of Charles, to the castle of Chinon, located about 150 km south-west of Orleans. On March 6, Jeanne's first meeting with the king took place, whom she recognized despite the fact that he deliberately got mixed up in a large crowd of courtiers. At first, she was treated with suspicion, but then Karl and many of the people close to him believed that she was sent to help him by God. First, in Chinon, and then in Poitiers Jeanne, trials and interrogations were arranged. After that, she waited almost the whole of April in Tours, until at last sufficient numbers of troops were gathered. At the head of this detachment, Jeanne, now dressed in white armor made especially for her, went to Orleans. She knew nothing of strategy and tactics, but she discovered common sense, attacking the besiegers from the north, where they had no fortifications. The French fought furiously, and the English gave in, believing that Joan was in league with the devil. The siege of Orleans was lifted on May 8, 1429, after which the French won a number of victories, and at the end of June, meeting weak resistance, they moved north. Accompanied by Jeanne and troops, Charles entered Reims on July 16, 1429. The next day, Jeanne stood nearby during his anointing to the kingdom.

After this, Charles made little effort to help the Virgin in driving the enemies out of northern France. September 8, 1429, leading an unsuccessful attack on Paris, Jeanne was wounded, and then the king led his army back to the Loire. Joan's prestige began to decline, but her desire to continue fighting for France continued unabated. After the main French forces abandoned their attempt to come to the aid of Compiègne, Jeanne entered the city with a small detachment loyal to her. On May 23, 1430, the Burgundians took her prisoner during a daring sortie outside the city walls. Charles VII offered no ransom, and the Burgundians sold Joan to the British for 10,000 livres. Negotiations about this were led by Bishop Pierre Cauchon of Beauvais, expelled from his diocese by the troops of Charles. It was he who stood in the spring of 1431 at the head of a special court of the French clergy in Rouen, who judged Joan as a witch and a heretic. The result of the proceedings was a foregone conclusion, Jeanne's courageous and skillful defense did not help her. In May, mainly because of Joan's refusal to submit to the church because she claimed to be responsible only to God, she was found guilty of heresy and excommunicated. Having signed a guilty plea under pressure, Jeanne returned to the church, but was sentenced to life imprisonment. Later, Jeanne withdrew her confession, put on a man's dress again and insisted that the voices guiding her came from God. Then the church court condemned her as having fallen into heresy for the second time and handed her over to the secular authorities for execution. May 30, 1431 Joan of Arc was burned alive at the stake in the Old Market Square in Rouen.

Charles VII managed to persuade the Burgundians to conclude a separate peace with him in Arras in 1435, and the death of the Duke of Bedford the following year deprived England of a wise ruler. Charles concluded a series of truces with the British, reorganized the army and public finances, and then resumed the war. With the fall of Bordeaux in 1453, the British lost all their possessions in France, with the exception of Calais. Now Karl tried to clean up his tarnished reputation by rehabilitating Jeanne. The case was again considered in the ecclesiastical court, held in Rouen in 1455, and the sentence was canceled. In 1909, the Virgin was declared blessed, and on May 16, 1920, she was canonized by Pope Benedict XV.