Joan of Arc

St. Joan of Arc (French: Jeanne d'Arc) (January{{fn|1}} 1412 – 30 May 1431), also styled the Maid of Orléans (Pucelle d'Orléans), is a national heroine of France and a Saint of the Catholic Church. At just 17 years of age, she commanded the French royal army. She convinced King Charles VII to drive the English out of France, and he gave her authority over the army in the siege of Orléans, the Battle of Patay and other engagements in 1429 and 1430. Those campaigns enabled the coronation{{fn|2}} of Charles VII. As a result, he awarded her family with ennoblement. The Burgundians captured and delivered her to the English, who selected clergymen to find her guilty of heresy. John, Duke of Bedford had her burnt at the stake in Rouen. In 1920 Pope Benedict XV canonized her in recognition of her innocence{{fn|3}} as found by an earlier appeal after her death. Her posthumous reception history is a lengthy one: she was revered by the Catholic League in the 16th century, embraced as a cultural symbol in French patriotic circles since the 19th century, became an inspiration to Allied forces during the First and Second World Wars and an official Saint to Roman Catholics since the early 20th century; currently being a focus of considerable interest in the Republic of Ireland, Canada, United Kingdom and United States. Many people therefore regard Joan of Arc as a notable woman of valor, vigor, and faith.

False "Joans of Arc"

After the execution of the Maid of Orleans, there were number of impostors who claimed to be Joan, having escaped from the fire. Most of these were swiftly exposed but two of the most famous are known as Jeanne de Armoises and Jehanne de Sermaises, although contemporary accounts are sketchy at best.

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According to a later story (found 1686 in Metz), Jeanne appeared for the first time in 20 May 1436 in Metz where she met with two brothers of Joan – Pierre and Jehan – and convinced them that she was their deceased sister. Whether the brothers really did believe or feigned belief for their own reasons is impossible to say. For the next three years the town of Orleans stopped the memorial services for the Maid of Orleans and, according to town records, paid some of her expenses.

Related Topics:
Metz - 20 May - 1436

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Afterwards, the false Joan supposedly moved to Arlon in Luxembourg where she reputedly met Madame de Luxembourg. Later she married a knight: Robert des Hermoises or Armoises.

Related Topics:
Arlon - Luxembourg

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The false Joan dealt with the king Charles VII via letters for the next four years. Around 1440 she finally received an audience with him. According to a later account of the king's chamberlain de Boisy, the king asked her about the secret he and Joan had shared; reputedly it was that the king had suspected he might have been illegitimate. She did not know the secret so she kneeled, confessed and begged for mercy. Later she was forced to admit her imposture in public. Still, there are contemporary claims that Joan's brothers had with them a woman they called their sister around 1449-1452.

Related Topics:
1440 - Illegitimate

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In 1457, after the Maid had been exonerated, there was a woman named Jehanne de Sermaises in Anjou. De Sermaises was accused of having called herself the Maid of Orleans; having worn male dress; and deceiving many people. She was sentenced to prison but released in February 1457 on the condition that she would "bear herself honestly in dress" (i.e. use female clothing). Afterwards she disappeared from public records.

Related Topics:
1457 - Anjou

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