JOAN OF ARC Illustrated by Angela Barrett Research by Vincent Helyar Josephine Poole
3 THIS IS A TRUE STORY. It happened over 500 years ago, in France. The French King was in great danger. His cousin, the Duke of Burgundy, wanted the throne for himself, and had persuaded England to fight with him. English ships set sail for France. English lords and soldiers captured many cities that belonged to the young French King. It looked as if he would be driven out, and he hadn’t even been properly crowned. Deep in the country, there lived a girl called Joan. She was a farmer’s daughter. She helped her mother in the house, and worked in the fields with her brothers. Her father was mayor of the village where they lived.
4 ONE summer day, when Joan was alone in the garden, the air around her turned very clear and bright—much brighter than the sun could make it. While she was wondering what could be happening, she heard voices. They were talking to her. She was afraid at first, until she understood that these were voices from Heaven. As she listened, she was full of happiness. She had never felt so happy. When the Voices stopped and the heavenly light paled to sunshine, she cried because they had gone away. Joan was thirteen when this happened. During the next four years, the Voices often spoke to her, but she never told anyone about them. To hear them was more important to her than anything in the world, although sometimes, when they spoke of the fighting in France, they made her cry. As time passed, her heart was filled with a great will and desire that her King should have his kingdom.
EN cours de mep Chronology 1412? Joan is born at Domrémy to Isabelle and Jacques d’Arc 1415 Henry V of England defeats the French at Agincourt 1420 Henry V marries Catherine, daughter of Charles VI of France 1422 Death of Henry V Death of Charles VI Dauphin takes the title Charles VII, King of France 1423 Treaty of Amiens between the Duke of Bedford and the Duke of Burgundy Submission of Normandy to the English 1424? St. Michael the Archangel first speaks to Joan in the garden at Domrémy St. Catherine and St. Margaret also speak to her 1428 May Joan’s first visit to Vaucouleurs to see the Captain, Baudricourt October 12 Orléans besieged by the English and Burgundians 1429 February Joan goes to Chinon to meet the Dauphin April 29 Joan enters Orléans May 8 Deliverance of Orléans June 29 Royal army leaves for Rheims through enemy territory via Auxerre, Troyes, and Châlons July 17 Consecration of the King, Charles VII, at Rheims September Unsuccessful assault on Paris Charles VII disperses his army Joan raises a small army November Unsuccessful assault on La Charité-sur-Lare Charles VII ennobles Joan’s family, but is negotiating with the Duke of Burgundy 1430 May Siege of Compiègne by the Burgundians Joan takes a small force to the rescue May 23 Joan is taken prisoner December 23 Joan is taken to Rouen, then the capital of English Normandy 1431 January 9 Joan's trial begins May 30 Joan is burned at the stake in the Old Market Square in Rouen 1435 September 21 Treaty of Arras between France and Burgundy 1436 Uprising in Paris 1437 November Charles VII enters Paris 1449 Uprising in Rouen November Charles VII enters Rouen 1450 February 15 Letter from Charles VII orders an inquiry into Joan’s trial March First inquiry when witnesses are called and heard 1452 May Ecclesiastical inquiry into the case of Joan 1455 June The Pope allows Isabelle, her mother, to undertake the process of Joan’s rehabilitation 1456 July Rehabilitation of Joan in the Archbishop’s palace at Rouen 1920 May 16 Joan is canonized
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