JOAN OF ARC

Joan of Arc was born January 6, 1412, in the village of Domremy, France. Her
parents were Jacques and Isabelle d’Arc. Joan was the youngest of their five
children.
 
Joan’s early life was very pastoral, spending most of her days in the fields.
 Like all other girls, Joan was tutored by her mother in “wifely skills.”
During this period of her life, Joan was called Jeannette. It was not until
she set out on her mission that she was called Jeanne or Joan the Maiden.
 
Joan was known for her obedience, religious fervor, and pious ways. Her
religious beliefs were also taught to her by her mother. Additionally, Joan
was, by all accounts, a very kind and generous person.
 
When Joan was 13 yeas of age, she started to hear voices on a daily basis.
The voices instructed her to conduct the Dauphin Charles to the city of Reims
for his coronation and to drive the English from the land.
 
In the company of six men, Joan set out on February 23, 1429, on her mission
for God.  Joan and her company set out for Chinon and were granted an
audience with Dauphin Charles on March 9, 1429. Her mission was approved by
a church council. Supported by the army of Dauphin Charles, Joan fought and
freed the country on her way to Reims. As a result of her battles, Dauphin
Charles was crowned July 17, 1429.
 
Joan never abandoned her king or her fight to free the kingdom from the
English. The same could not be said of Joan’s king and friends who quickly
abandoned her.
 
Joan was captured by the Burgundians. All records show she was treated
fairly by her captors. Unfortunately for Joan, the Burgundians handed Joan
over to the English.
 
The English wanted not only to see Joan die, but also to discredit King
Charles for allowing Joan to be condemned by the church as a witch and a
heretic. Unlike the Burgundians, the English did not treat Joan kindly.
Joan was eventually burned at the stake in the marketplace in Rouen on May
30, 1431.
 
In 1920, the Church of Rome officially declared Joan as a saint. Joan of
Arc’s feast day is celebrated on May 30.
 
ADDITIONAL LINKS
http://www.smu.edu/ijas/
Interactive maps are a great resource. The "Joan Links" offers a wide variety of additional websites.

http://www.stjohns-stamford.org/chapel/StJoan.html
A brief history of Joan of Arc along with a picture of the stained glass window at the St. John's Episcopal Church in Stamford.

http://www.jeanne-darc.com
The Joan of Arc Museum of Rouen, in France, provides a good history of Joan's life, the trail, her sword and armor.

http://www.jeanne-darc.com
The Saint Joan of Arc Center in Albuquerque, N.M. offers a wealth of information about all aspects of Joan of Arc. This is an excellent resource for student research.