Two Page Monograph about Joan of Arc.
When Joan of Arc is mentioned as a person, most people think of her accomplishments as a woman. While it's true that most women at the time of Joan of Arc enjoyed less freedom and important roles then of girls of today, much of her importance was not because of her acting out of her role. Her fame was because of her role at the end of the Hundred Years War and the crowning of Charles VII.
Joan grew up in France and grew up through the war. She started hearing voices at the age of 13. She stated that they had only told her to attend church and pray more. After a year or two the started telling her she must help the future king of France be crowned. HE had to be crowned at Reims by tradition, but at the time the English controlled it. If Joan did not purse these voices, the English would crown Henry VI when he was old enough. Joan then left her parents without telling them, and convinced the King of her mission. She was given an army who started the siege of Orleans, the first step to getting to Reims. She conquered, won, and the King was crowned. Shortly after her success started going downhill.
She was captured in a town Compiegne when the drawbridge was raised. Her army had closed the gates to hastily, and she was left outside. She was arrested and n tried by the English court. She was found guilty, and was sentenced to burn at the stake. She was not charged with being a warrior or a woman. In fact, it was not uncommon for some women to fight in battles. In the poorer villages women often fought alongside their husbands as a necessity. Often their jobs were pouring hot oil and ashes on the attackers. It was because she had told the courts that she could talk to God, that she was killed. She was found to be heretical which was against the laws to be anything but the Kings religion at that time. .
Her sentenced was carried out. A peasant girl, her death was not glorified or honored.
