by T. HeroldCharacters:
Jeanne D'Arc, illiterate Domremy village girl.
Charles, French dauphin crowned Charles VII.
Tremoille,the king's evil adviser.
Duke Alencon and La Hire, Joan's loyal generals.
Bishop Pierre Cauchon, who tried Joan.
The Story:
Joan of Arc, or Jeanne d' Arc, was an illiterate daughter of farmer Jacques Darc in Domremy, France. At 13, she began seeing visions of Archangel Michael and hearing the heavenly voices of St. Marguerite and St. Catherine urging her to deliver France from the English and crown the French dauphin.
But it was only when she was 17 that the provincial governor believed and sent her to see the French dauphin. Joan overcame obstacles and objections, and the French ruler followed his instincts and made her commander-in-chief of his armies. Joan battled the English and defeated them at Orleans, St. Loup, Les Tourelles where Joan as wounded, and other places.
Having driven the English from all enemy-occupied towns, Joan and her armies escorted the dauphin to Rheims where he was crowned Charles VII of France. Her work over, she wanted to return to Domremy; but the king made her Lady Du Lis and told her tostay in court.
With her voices no longer guiding her, she lost in suceeding,battles. tremoille, the king's adviser, undermined her; the Duke of Burgundy sold her to the English for 10,000 gold livres. She was tried by a court headed by Bishop Pierre Cauchon, found guilty as a witch, and burned at stake in Rouen on May 30, 1431. The French got mad, drove the English away in 1453; the Church absolved Joan in 1456. she was beatified by Pope Pius X in 1909, and created saint in 1919.
Comment:
This is the beautiful but pathetic story of one of the great women of history, Joan of Arc. She was an illiterate peasant girl aided by God to save to save France from the enemy. A great heroine, yet her patriotism was rewarded with treachery; but her sacrifices and her burning at the stake made her a revered name and a beloved saint.