Jeanne d'Arc's father. Jeanne D'Arc - national heroine of France

Famous historical figure Jeanne dArc, biography ( Short story) which begins in the distant 15th century, is considered a symbol of freedom and masculinity. The girl was born in the village of Domremi in about 1412 in the family of Jacques d "Arcs and his wife Isabella. In addition to Jeanne, there were other children in a peasant family. Of all her brothers and sisters, the young heroine became the closest friend of all with her older sister, Catherine, who later left married and soon died at a young age.

Dom d "Arkov stood in the center of the village, very close to the local church. For some time, Jeanne's father held the elective position of dean of the community and, accordingly, the population of the village of Domremy appreciated and respected him. Many peasants listened to Jacques d" Ark as a sensible and wise person ...

Jeanne dArc: a short biography for schoolchildren

What kind of child was Jeanne? From early childhood, the girl was accustomed to feeling like a member of the family of a respected person and tried to correspond to the status of her father. Young Zhanna helped her mother with the housework, learned to cook and listened with rapture to the stories of her parents about the beautiful maiden who would save their village. Throughout her life in Domréme, Jeanne saw the glow of numerous fires, the cries of her fellow villagers and firmly believed that the Virgin of Orleans, whose arrival had been predicted many centuries before, would liberate their native lands. According to legend, it belonged to a popular character in many legends and knightly tales. Jeanne dArc believed in all the predictions and legends of the past centuries. short biography for children includes the key facts of the girl's biography. And these historical events very reminiscent of the legends associated with the Virgin of Orleans.

Jeanne dArc: biography, summary

It is generally accepted that the year of birth of the young heroine is exactly 1412, however, the date January 6, 1409 is indicated in the canonization document. She preferred to call herself "Jeanne the Virgin" rather than Jeanne d "Arc. early years the young heroine in the family was often called Jeanette.

At the age of 13, Jeanne heard in her head the voice of the Archangel Michael, who told her to listen to his story and accept her fate. According to Michael's revelation, it was Jeanne who was the Maid of Orleans, and only she was able to free the besieged Orleans, thus expelling all opponents.

When the girl was 17 years old, she went to the captain of the city without hesitation. At that time, Vaucouleur Baudricuru was recognized as him, who ridiculed the girl's story that she supposedly had to defend her native lands. However, Zhanna did not give up and from the second time she was accepted into her ranks. The captain ordered several soldiers to be assigned to her, after the girl predicted the defeat of the French at Orleans. Jeanne preferred to wear exactly men's military clothing, arguing that in it she feels freer and stronger. Together with Jeanne went to war two of her best knights - Jean de Metz and Bertrand de Poulangy.

Hostilities

Truly a great heroine and martyr Jeanne dArc, a biography, a brief history of military affairs, which begins with the siege of Orleans, was an unknown peasant woman. According to historical data, in March 1429, the young heroine arrived at the Dauphin, announcing that her fate was determined by higher powers and predicted her victory. Therefore, she asked for an army in order to lift the siege from Orleans. The girl amazed everyone present with her extraordinary knowledge of military affairs and the intricacies of horseback riding. Dauphin Karl hesitated for a long time, but after several days of deliberation, he agreed to provide Jeanne with an army in exchange for a promise that she had to confirm his legitimacy and the corresponding rights to the throne by the higher powers. Quite a large part of the population doubted that Karl was the legitimate heir, which was not afraid to speak out openly.

Further, after the order of the king, special armor and equipment began to be made for such a warrior as Jeanne dArc. Biography, a short history of the girl is that throughout her life she defended her people, her lands and did everything in her power for this. She conquered many historians with her courage, courage and extraordinary faith in her victory.

Offensive to Orleans

The next point in the course of hostilities was Blois, where her army was already awaiting Jeanne. The good news that their uprising was led by a girl sent by higher powers instilled confidence and courage in the soldiers. After prolonged attacks for 4 days, the young heroine lifts the siege of Orleans. Many military leaders of the time considered the mission of freeing Orleans from the British almost impossible.

The hostilities ceased until the spring of 1430. However, the royal courtiers disliked the young heroine and tried in every possible way to turn the public against her. After a long time, they still succeeded. Thanks to the actions of the insidious courtiers, Jeanne d'Arc was accused of treason, as a result of which she was captured by the British, where she was imprisoned in the tower of Rouen.

Trial

The trial of the heroine was started in last days February 1431. According to the documents, Jeanne d "Arc was tried by the local church, charged with heresy and false testimony of higher powers. However, all the time she was imprisoned, the girl was kept under the protection of the British, as a prisoner of war. Bishop Cauchon of England did not hide his interest in the heroine's case. as well as the government of the country. The government of England fully paid all costs and expenses associated with the Virgin of Orleans. Jeanne dArc, biography, short life which depended on the decision of the British, fought to the last and believed in a higher power.

Interrogation and captivity

A short biography of Jeanne dArc for grade 6 includes materials regarding her imprisonment in the tower of Rouen and some interrogations. For all the time spent in captivity, the girl was bullied, beaten and humiliated in every possible way, thus showing his attitude to her "false" prophecy. Most of the population of England considered her a false witness and a traitor to her homeland.

Execution of Jeanne d "Arc

However, despite numerous tortures and threats, Jeanne d'Arc did not break down and did not admit her guilt. the death penalty- without admitting guilt on the part of the accused, he made the girl a martyr in the eyes of her people. Since the young heroine was illiterate, the judges decided to resort to deception, slipping documents on her to sign, allegedly about her release and return to her homeland. In fact, there was evidence of a complete renunciation of their predictions and an admission of guilt. Thus, the girl herself signed the verdict.

On May 30, 1431, the girl was burned alive in the Old Market Square in Rouen. According to historical records, her ashes were scattered over the Seine. Jeanne dArc, a biography whose short history was completed so early, is a symbol of courage for many of us.

Jeanne d "Arc." My choice is not my fault!

At dawn on May 30, 1431, 581 years ago, priests entered the prison in the city of Rouen to confess and give communion to one of the prisoners. After that, a nineteen-year-old girl named Jeanne d'Arcs was escorted to the Old Market Square in Rouen, where a bonfire awaited her, illuminating her path to immortality.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

Twenty-five years after the trial, Jeanne was rehabilitated and recognized as the beloved daughter of the Church and France. And in 1920, four hundred and ninety years after being burned at the stake, the Roman Church canonized her and recognized her mission as true, by fulfilling which she saved France.

Eugene Tyrion. Archangel Michael appears to Jeanne d'Arc. 1876

Jeanne d'Arc was born on January 6, 1409/1408 (the traditional date of birth of Jeanne is 1412) in the village of Domremy on the border of Champagne and Lorraine into a family of impoverished nobles (according to another version - wealthy peasants, although the peasants never had the prefix "de" in their name) Jacques d'Arc and Isabella de Vouton, nicknamed Roma (Roman) because of her pilgrimage to Rome. Jeanne never called herself Jeanne d'Arc, but only “Jeanne the Virgin”, specifying that in childhood she was called Jeanette. At the age of 13, Jeanne for the first time, according to her assurances, heard the voices of the Archangel Michael, Saint Catherine of Alexandria and Margaret of Antioch, who sometimes appeared to her in visible form. After some time, they revealed to Joan that it was she who was destined to lift the siege from Orleans, to enthroned the Dauphin and expel the invaders from the kingdom.

Semiradsky G. I. Jeanne d "Arc.

When Jeanne was 17 years old, she went to the captain of the city of Vaucouleurs Robert de Baudricourt and announced her mission. Being ridiculed, Jeanne was forced to return to the village, but a year later she repeated her attempt. This time, the captain, amazed by her persistence, was more attentive, and when Jeanne accurately predicted the sad outcome for the French of the “Battle of Herring” under the walls of Orleans, he agreed to give her people so that she could go to the king, and also provided a man's clothing - a chaperone , hook and shossami, and Jeanne until the end preferred to dress that way, explaining that in men's clothing it would be easier for her to fight and, at the same time, not cause unhealthy attention to herself from the soldiers.

Ernst Stueckelberg.

In Chinon, Jeanne amazed Charles VII and the young Duke of Alencon with her horsemanship, her impeccable knowledge of the games common among the nobility: kenten, the game of rings, which required perfect possession of weapons. During the acquittal process, Alain Chartier, secretary of kings Charles VI and Charles VII, said the following: "It seemed that this girl was brought up not in the fields, but in schools, in close communication with the sciences." After nothing was found that could cast a shadow on the girl's reputation, Karl decided to transfer the command of the troops into her hands and appointed her commander-in-chief.

Scheffer Нenry.

An important role in such a bold decision was played by the fact that Jeanne, in the name of God, confirmed to Charles his legitimacy and rights to the throne, which were doubted by many, including Charles himself. After the appointment, they make armor for Jeanne (she received special permission from the commission of theologians from Poitiers to wear men's clothing), a banner and a banner. The sword for her was found in the church of Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois according to the command of Jeanne herself. According to legend, this sword belonged to Charlemagne.

Harold Piffard. Joan Of Arc.

On April 29, Jeanne with a small detachment penetrates Orleans. On May 4, her army won its first victory, taking the Saint-Loup bastion. Victories followed one after another, and on the night of May 7-8, the British were forced to lift the siege from the city. Thus, Jeanne d'Arc solved the task, which other French commanders considered impossible, in four days.

J.J. Scherrer. Jeanne d'Arc victorieuse entre dans Orleans. 1887

Charles's hesitation and indecision were the reason that Jeanne made her next trip to the English-occupied castles of the Loire only on June 9th. However, this time the army, led by her, acted quickly, decisively and unusually successfully. On June 11, the army approached the central fortified point of the British on the Loire - Jargeau, the next day Jargeau was taken by assault, on June 15, Jeanne speaks to Meun-sur-Loire, on June 16 - on Beauhansy, and on June 18 the decisive battle of Pathe took place with the English an army led by Talbot and Fastolfe, which ended in the complete defeat of the British. The formidable Talbot was captured, Fastolfe fled from the battlefield. The Loire operation was completed.

Jan Matejko. Jeanne D "Ark. (Detail) 1886.

On June 29, a "bloodless campaign" towards Reims began. City after city opened the gates to the royal army, on July 17 the king was solemnly anointed at Reims Cathedral in the presence of Joan of Arc, which caused an extraordinary surge of national spirit in the country. The Duke of Burgundy Philip III the Good did not come to the ceremony, and Jeanne wrote him a letter on the same day, calling for reconciliation.

Peter Paul Rubens. Joan of Arc.

After the coronation, Jeanne urged Charles to launch an offensive on Paris, taking advantage of the favorable situation and confusion in the British camp, but he again began to hesitate. The attack on the capital was launched only in September, but the offensive was quickly stopped. The king gave the order to withdraw the army to the Loire, and on September 21 the army was disbanded.

Eugene Samuel Grasset.

In the spring of 1430, hostilities were resumed, but were sluggish. Jeanne was constantly put up with obstacles by the royal courtiers. In May, Jeanne comes to the aid of Compiegne, besieged by the Burgundians. On May 23, as a result of betrayal (a bridge was raised to the city, which cut off Jeanne's escape route), Jeanne d'Arc was taken prisoner by the Burgundians. King Charles, who owed her so much, did nothing to save Joan. Soon the Burgundians sold it to the British for 10,000 gold livres. In November - December 1430, Jeanne was transported to Rouen.

Dillens A.A.Capture of Jeanne d Arc.

The process began on February 21, 1431. Despite the fact that Joan was formally tried by the church on charges of heresy, she was kept in prison under the protection of the British as a prisoner of war. The process was headed by Bishop Pierre Cauchon, an ardent adherent of British interests in France. During the process, it turned out that it would not be so easy to accuse Jeanne - the girl held on to the trial with tremendous courage and confidently refuted accusations of heresy and intercourse with the devil, bypassing numerous traps. In the hope of breaking the will of the prisoner, she is kept in terrible conditions, the English guards insult her, the tribunal threatens her with torture, but all in vain - Jeanne refuses to submit and plead guilty.

Paul Delaroche. Interrogation of Jeanne by the Cardinal of Winchester. 1824 g.

On May 24, Cauchon resorted to outright meanness - he presented the prisoner with a ready-made fire for her execution by burning, and already near the fire promised to transfer her from an English prison to a church prison, where she would be provided with good care if she signed a paper on renunciation of heresies and obedience to the Church. At the same time, the paper with the text read to the illiterate girl was replaced by another, on which there was a text about the complete renunciation of all her "delusions", on which Jeanne gave up.

A few days later, under the pretext that Jeanne again put on men's clothing (the women's one was taken from her by force) and, thus, “fell into the previous delusions,” the tribunal sentenced her to death. On May 30, 1431, Jeanne d'Arc was burnt alive in the Old Market Square in Rouen. A paper miter with the inscription "Heretic, apostate, idolater" was put on Jeanne's head and led to the fire. “Bishop, I am dying because of you. I challenge you to God's judgment! " - Jeanne shouted from the height of the fire and asked to give her a cross. The executioner handed her two crossed twigs. And when the fire engulfed her, she shouted several times: "Jesus!" Almost everyone cried with pity. Her ashes were scattered over the Seine. In the museum of the city of Chinon, remains are kept, allegedly belonging to Jeanne d'Arc, although, according to the research of scientists, these relics do not belong to her.

Burning of Jeanne d'Arc. 19th century postcard.

"I ask to be sent to God from whom I came ..."
Joan of Arc

Biography and episodes of life Jeanne d'Arc. When was born and died Jeanne d'Arc, memorable places and dates important events her life. Holy quotes, images and videos.

Jeanne d'Arc's life years:

born 6 January 1412, died 30 May 1431

Epitaph

“Listen, in the night -

France is crying:

Come again and save me, meek martyr

Jeanne! "
From the prayer of Saint Teresa of Lisieux

Biography

The name of Jeanne d'Arc, condemned as a heretic and subsequently canonized, is dear to the heart of any Frenchman as a symbol of freedom and justice. Moreover bright Star From her ascension to the sky and up to the crown of martyrs, Jeanne shone for less than two years. There are many legends around this historical figure, there is no certainty even in the correct year of birth of Jeanne. But one thing is certain: a young inexperienced girl has done in her short life what seemed impossible.

Jeanne was born into a family of either wealthy peasants or impoverished nobles - there are disagreements among historians on this score. At the age of 13, she first heard voices and saw the saints telling her that her destiny was to lead the army and drive the English invaders from her native land. At the age of 16, Jeanne went to the captain of the city of Vaucouleurs, who made fun of her. But the girl did not give up, and in the end a detachment was assigned to her to travel to Chinon, where the uncrowned Dauphin Karl was at that time.

Having achieved an audience with the Dauphin, Jeanne passed all the tests that were prepared in order to test her, and in the end convinced the Dauphin to transfer command of the troops to her. This in itself was a miracle. But others soon followed: with a small detachment, Jeanne freed Orleans from the siege of the British in 4 days, while the French military leaders could not cope with this for many months. After this victory, Jeanne received the nickname "The Maid of Orleans" and moved to Path, scoring one victory after another. IN the last battle the British troops were defeated, and Jeanne summoned the Dauphin to Reims for her coronation.

Jeanne d'Arc at the coronation of Charles VII, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, 1854

The trip to Reims was called "bloodless": the presence of Jeanne convinced the city dwellers on whose side God was. But after the coronation, the cautious and cautious Karl did not allow Jeanne to build on her success. The courtiers also did not favor the Maid of Orleans. Finally, during the siege of Compiegne, Jeanne was betrayed by her own associates, captured by the Burgundians and sold to the British for 10,000 gold livres.

The trial of Jeanne d'Arc officially accused her of intercourse with the devil, but was paid in full out of the English pocket. In order to prevent her from receiving the martyr's crown, they tried to obtain a confession of guilt from Joan, but to no avail. In the end, Jeanne's signature on the corresponding document was fraudulently obtained, and the Maid of Orleans was sentenced to be burned alive.

The Hundred Years War ended 22 years after Joan's execution. The Maid of Orleans, in fact, organizing the anointing of the French king to the throne, dealt too serious a blow to the claims of England. Immediately after the end of the war, Charles VII ordered to collect all the materials of the trial and to investigate the case again. Jeanne d'Arc was fully acquitted, and more than four centuries later she was canonized.

Jeanne d'Arc by John Everett Millais, 1865

Life line

January 6, 1412 Date of birth of Jeanne d'Arc.
1425 g. Apparitions of the saints to Jeanne.
March 1429 Arrival in Chinon and an audience with the Dauphin Karl.
May 1429 Jeanne d'Arc's first victory and the lifting of the siege of Orleans.
June 1429 A swift series of victories and a complete defeat of the British troops at the Battle of Path.
July 1429 Attendance at the solemn anointing of Charles in Reims.
September 1429 Dissolution of Jeanne's army.
May 1430 Capture of Jeanne d'Arc by the Burgundians.
November-December 1430 Transportation of Jeanne to Rouen.
February 21, 1431 The beginning of the trial of Zhanna d'Arc.
May 30, 1431 Date of death of Jeanne d'Arc.
1455 g. The beginning of the repeated trial.
1456 g. Zhanna d'Arc's acquittal on all counts of the previous indictment.
May 16, 1920 Canonization of Jeanne d'Arc.

Memorable places

1. The house in Domremi, where Jeanne was born and lived, is now a museum.
2. Chinon, where Jeanne met King Charles.
3. Orleans, where Jeanne won her first victory.
4. Site of the Battle of Path, in which Jeanne's army defeated the British.
5. Reims Cathedral, the traditional coronation site of French monarchs, where the Dauphin Charles was chrismated in the presence of Jeanne.
6. Compiegne, where the capture of Joan took place.
7. Tower of Jeanne d'Arc in Rouen, the former part of the Rouen castle, where, according to legend, Jeanne was kept during her trial.
8. House number 102 on the street. Jeanne d'Arc, in the courtyard of which are the remains of the foundations of the Tower of the Virgin, where Jeanne was actually kept.
9. Monument and church at the site of the execution of Jeanne d'Arc on the Old Market Square in Rouen.

Episodes of life

Belief in Joan of Arc was based largely on the prophecy that a virgin would save France. After her appearance with the Dauphin Karl, the latter checked her in various ways, but Jeanne really turned out to be a girl, and besides, she recognized Karl, who had put another person on the throne and was huddled in the crowd of courtiers.

Zhanna herself never used the surname "d'Ark" and called herself only "Zhanna the virgin". It is believed that the British contributed to the spread of the name "Jeanne d'Arc" because of the consonance of his word "dark" - "dark".

Jeanne preferred to wear men's clothing, as it was more comfortable in battle and less embarrassing for her male companions. In medieval France, this was considered a grave sin, and a special commission of theologians from Poitiers gave the Maid of Orleans special permission to do so. Nevertheless, wearing men's clothing appeared as one of the accusations proving Jeanne's connection with the devil.

Monument by Maxim Real del Sarte at the site of the execution of Jeanne d'Arc

Covenants

"For God to grant victory, soldiers must fight."

"We will get peace only at the end of a spear."

The documentary film The Controversial Story of Jeanne d'Arc. Part I "

Condolences

“Jeanne embodied the Spirit of Patriotism, became its personification, its living, visible and tangible image.<...>
Love, Mercy, Valor, War, Peace, Poetry, Music - for all this you can find many symbols, all this can be represented in images of any gender and age. But a fragile, slender girl in the prime of her first youth, with a martyr's crown on her forehead, with a sword in her hand, with which she cut the bonds of her homeland - won't she, it is she, remain a symbol of PATRIOTISM until the end of time? "
Mark Twain, writer, author of the book "Jeanne d'Arc"

"The famous Jeanne d'Arc proved that the French genius can work wonders if freedom is in danger."
Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France

“Jeanne d'Arc could remain a rural seer, she could prophesy and heal. She could finish work as a revered abbess, if not even a respected citizen. There were paths to everything. But the Great Law had to find in her one more light evidence of the Truth. The flame of her heart, the flame of a bonfire - a flaming crown - all this is far beyond ordinary laws. Even beyond the ordinary human imagination. "
Nicholas Roerich, artist and philosopher

With all the research information on the subject of Jeanne d'Arc, whose appearance in world history was incredibly brief, but extremely vivid, we are still more don't know than we know about the Virgin of Orleans. The date of birth is hypothetical - it is traditionally called 1412, but in the papal decree, after the canonization of Joan to the canon of saints, another date is recorded - 1409, and perhaps this is more plausible, since the Catholic Church is very scrupulous in working with documents relating to the canonization of this or another person.

Not a single lifetime portrait of Jeanne has survived, if there were any - the only drawing, dated May 10, 1429, belongs to the pen of the impressionable secretary of the Parliament of Paris, when truly sensational news came to the city that the Dauphin's supporters had lifted the siege from the city of Orleans. Of course, the secretary could not see Jeanne personally, if only because Paris was under the rule of the Anglo-Burgundians, which gave free rein to fantasy - in a not too skillful drawing we see a long-haired woman in a pleated skirt, with a sword and a banner, while Jeanne wore men's clothes and had a short haircut, as many witnesses from her entourage report to us in a friendly chorus.

The surviving descriptions of the appearance are no less stingy. Jeanne's hair was dark, her eyes were brown, her height was tall - at that time, of course. In a 2005 study of the University of Tübingen "The biological standard of living in Central Europe during the last 2000 years", based on measurements of 9447 skeletons from 314 graves, including common graves, it is indicated that the average height of a person from the 14th-15th centuries was 167 cm for men and 157 cm for women, that is, the "tall" Joan of Arc could well have been 170-175 centimeters tall.

The central issue is the personality of the Virgin of Orleans, which we can perceive exclusively through the prism of the memories of her contemporaries and the documents of both the indictment case and the subsequent rehabilitation process. Moreover, there is one significant "but" - the court documents are not a detailed transcript of Jeanne's statements, but bureaucratic records that rather reflect the attitude of the representatives of the church court towards the accused, than convey the thoughts of the Virgin to us. Doctor historical sciences and the modern Russian medievalist Olga Togoeva accurately formulated the essence of the problem:

“It is much more difficult to understand who she really was and who she considered herself to be. It seems to me that we will never know the answers to these questions, we will not see Jeanne "in action", we will not hear her own words. Documents that have survived from the 15th century cannot give us a complete picture of how she herself assessed her own actions and, above all, the choice she made, leaving her home and family, the usual rural way of life, abandoning marriage and devoting herself entirely to the cause of war. " ...

Even more questions are raised by Jeanne's entourage and historical figures who sympathized with her, helped and guided her. Among them were very strange, if not ominous characters, who can hardly be imagined among the confidants of the future saint. Let's take a look at some of them.

... He was young, handsome and incredibly rich. By the time he met Jeanne Gilles de Montmorency-Laval, Baron de Ré, was 24 years old - by the standards of the Middle Ages, this is the age of heyday and entering maturity. On the paternal side, Gilles de Rais was the great-nephew of one of the greatest commanders Of the Hundred Years War, to Bertrand du Gueclin. He inherited a fantastic fortune, the area of ​​his land exceeded the possession of the Duke of Breton, and the family controlled almost half of the salt works of Brittany and, accordingly, received a fabulous income from the export of this incredibly valuable product at that time.

"Gilles de Laval, Monsieur de Re" (painter Elio-Firmin Feron, 1835)

We can say that Gilles de Rais for some time supported the "Bourgeois King" and financed military operations, since things were extremely bad with the funds of the Dauphin Charles, and the Baron was, though not the most convinced, but still Armagnac, who did not regret funds for the senor. Finally, thanks to his grandfather and guardian, Jean de Craon, Gilles de Rais received an excellent education. He read at least Latin and Ancient Greek and was fond of collecting books, collecting a rich library - a phenomenon quite rare for the knighthood of the 15th century, with its morals that had become coarse during decades of war. At the same time, he showed himself to be an excellent military man, an impeccable knight and an absolutely fearless man.

Here is such good fellow was presented to the court of the Dauphin approximately in 1427, when Georges de La Tremouille, to whom Baron de Ré was a distant relative, becomes the constable of France (more precisely, of what was left of France after the treaty in Troyes). Further, it is well known - a rapid court career, participation with Jeanne d'Arc in the Orleans affair and the Battle of Pathe, the coronation of the Dauphin in Reims, the title of Marshal of France at the age of 25. However, in 1432, the political and military star Gilles de Rais enters, he retires to his domain, where he is engaged in writing and even theater - by his order, the Orleans Mystery is written, praising the exploits of Jeanne and, of course, her associates. Then he surrounds himself with alchemists and magicians, allegedly engaging in witchcraft and demon worship, and in 1440 comes on trial on charges of serial murder, sodomy, witchcraft and, as they usually wrote in the protocols of the Inquisition, “other innumerable abominations”. The verdict was guilty, Gilles de Rais was executed in Nantes on October 26, 1440, a decade after his farewell to Jeanne ...

The second of Jeanne's closest associates, Gascon Etienne de Vignoles, Señor de Coucy, nicknamed La Gere ("Wrath"), was the complete opposite of the refined and educated Gilles de Rais, who - you just imagine - read books! Perhaps, there was no more repulsive character in the environment of Dauphin Karl: according to all reports of contemporaries, the only characteristic applied to La Hira is the inveterate gallows. It is Vignol, according to legend, that a wonderful aphorism belongs, completely in the spirit of his character: "If God were a soldier, he would also rob!"

La Hire could neither read nor write, was distinguished by a phenomenal talent for foul language, possessed a completely unbridled and ferocious character, was outwardly ugly, severely limped - he was left disabled after an absurd incident when a chimney fell on him in one of the dirty inns, breaking his right leg in several places. The classic Rogue Knight type! After Jeanne was burned in Rouen, La Hire took personal revenge on the bourguignons, literally piling up piles of corpses over the course of several years. In the spring of 1429, with the appearance of Jeanne in Chinon, this grunt was about forty years old - and such a venerable age, taking into account the incessant battles, means one thing: he was a professional of a very high class.

Portrait of La Guira (painter Louis-Félice Amiel, 1835)

The mystery of Jeanne d'Arc's personality lies in the fact that Virgo almost instantly managed to charm such different people like Gilles de Ré and La Hire. If Dunois, Alençon or Poton de Sentreil, who were walking with Jeanne to Orleans, were generally ordinary people for their era, then this couple stands out especially brightly against the general background - especially considering what we know about Baron de Re and Etienne Vignolet. La Hire was generally one of the first to recognize a divine sign, a symbol in Virgo, believed in her completely sincerely - and this thug, we note, it is difficult to call a person impressionable and sensitive.

Jeanne forced Vignol to go to confession, although he treated church rites without special reverence; finally, Jeanne, who was completely intolerant of foul language and blasphemy, forgave him the most vulgar ambiguity - the Virgin swore by the shaft of her banner, La Hire adopted the style of emu and also began to swear by her "shaft." The fact that Jeanne had a serious influence on this violent type is undeniable, but it is absolutely incomprehensible how and why a mercenary, for whom it was as easy to kill a person as blowing his nose, unconditionally believed her and humbled his eerie temper. More precisely, he believed in Virgo, which, however, did not at all prevent him from releasing the guts of the Burgundians later mercilessly as a bloody vendetta for Joan.

La Hire and Poton de Centrail (miniature Xv century)

Even more difficult situation develops with Gilles de Rais in the light of his future activities and the charges brought. A good education then included a compulsory course in theology, and in general, the Breton baron should have had a good understanding of religious intricacies, being able to distinguish a fraud from a potential saint. Moreover, Gilles de Ré's fascination with the occult and alchemy (fully proven by witnesses) implied that the young man was interested in hermetic knowledge from his youth, and therefore, he was attracted by everything connected with the "otherworldly". Isn't this the secret of his passion for Jeanne, in which, however, like La Gira and the others, there was not the slightest shade of sexuality?

Well, if we assume that all the horrors that Gilles de Rey allegedly committed in the next decade (those who wish can inquire about the frightening details of the accusation in his case on their own) are at least a quarter real, then what happens? Jeanne, whom even skeptics do not deny a greater or lesser gift of clairvoyance, did not manage to discern a monster in him? Therefore, she is not so saint? Or vice versa - Gilles de Ré, ten years later, became a victim of a falsified accusation? By the way, latest version also exists and is discussed in detail by researchers.

It will be interesting to mention here the conclusion given by the commission of theologians in Poitiers, where Jeanne was sent shortly after her appearance in Chinon:

«… In her, Jeanne, they did not find anything evil, but only goodness, humility, virginity, piety, honesty, simplicity. The hosts with whom she lived, Jean Rabate and his wife, confirm that every day after lunch she spent a long time on her knees in prayer, and sometimes prayed at night, and that she often went to her home chapel, where she prayed for a long time.».

Tellingly, this recording was not made by reverent admirers of Jeanne like Gilles de Ré or La Guire, but by people in whose field of professional activity was the obligation to give for state power a clear and not requiring double interpretation characterization of the girl from Domremi - they were not inclined to sentimentality bureaucrats, many of whom participated in the inquisition processes and perfectly represented their personal measure of responsibility in case of error. But even here we see an extremely unanimous opinion - the Virgin Jeanne is almost the ideal of Christian ministry. It was impossible to deceive these hardened specialists, ten dogs who ate in the field of determining obsession and knew exactly the criteria of good and evil in the concepts of church law in the 15th century. So Jeanne's "magic" also influenced them?

We use Occam's principle - the simplest and most rational explanation of a certain phenomenon is the most correct. That the Dauphin, that the gentlemen de Ré, Vignoles, Dunois or Alençon, that the priests in Poitiers were confronted with the unalloyed purity of faith, without the slightest shadow of guile or pretense. Sincerity always evokes trust and sympathy, especially since the "mass unconscious" of the French society of that period longed for miracles, miracles, mystical deliverance. We impose all this on the religious mentality, on the imaginary or true visions of Jeanne, and we get the Virgin of Orleans, "Lady Hope", as the French researcher Regine Pernu called this phenomenon.

Prayer of Jeanne d'Arc (artist Zoë-Lauret de Chatillon, XIX century)

After a short visit to Poitiers, Jeanne is transported back to Chinon and from the Dauphin's court to Tours. The order of Charles de Valois follows: “… To make armor for the Virgo, suitable for her body", That is to say, take measurements and forge armor to fit Jeanne. Archival work in the 15th century was no worse developed than it is now, and the preserved treasury records report that 100 full-fledged Tours livres followed for the armor of the armourer Jean Dupuis - taking into account inflation, the amount is very solid. Gold content the livre of Tours was 8.27 g of pure gold or approximately 490 g of silver, that is, the armor of Jeanne cost the Dauphin 820 g of gold. At the same time, the famous banner of Jeanne d'Arc was ordered, which was worn on a spear pole. There were problems with weapons - back in Vaucouleurs, Captain Robert de Baudricourt presented the Virgo with the most ordinary sword, for defense against a possible attack on the road. However, Jeanne demanded that a messenger be sent to the town of Saint-Catherine-de-Fierbois, where she stopped on the way to Chinon. We quote the chronicles:

“... She knew from her voices that the sword was there, and she never saw the person who went for the named sword. She wrote to the priests of the church of this town: Rejoice that the sword will be with me, and send it to me. The sword was buried shallowly and, as it seemed to her, behind the altar; however, she did not know for sure whether it was behind or in front of the altar. She also said that as soon as the sword is found, the priests of this church should clean it, and the rust will disappear immediately; and the armourer from Tours went to fetch the sword. "

A distinctive feature of the blade was five crosses engraved on it - any person familiar with medieval heraldry will immediately determine what this sign is: the coat of arms of the Jerusalem Kingdom of the Crusaders, founded in 1099. The symbolism is obvious - Jeanne was going to her Crusade... Another of the many and unexplained oddities that accompanied the appearance of the Virgin.

Soon, Jeanne leaves for Blois, where the royal army was gathering and where all those who believed in the mission of the Virgin were waiting for her, including Gilles de Rais and the intemperate language of La Guire ...

To be continued

Every second Sunday in May, France celebrates the Day of Remembrance of Jeanne d'Arc - the famous Maid of Orleans, who during the Hundred Years War led french army, won several decisive military victories, crowned the Dauphin Charles VII, but was captured by traitors from Burgundy and burned at the stake by the British. The execution of Jeanne d'Arc took place in Rouen on May 30, 1431. 25 years after the execution, she was rehabilitated and recognized as a national heroine, and in the 20th century, the Catholic Church proclaimed her a saint. This is the official version. But there are many myths and legends associated with Jeanne d'Arc. According to some sources, the Maid of Orleans was a village shepherdess, according to others - a noble lady.

Shepherdess

According to the most widespread version, Jeanne d'Arc was born into the family of a village headman in the village of Domréme on the border of Alsace in 1412. Once she heard the voices of Saints Catherine and Margaret, who told her that she was destined to save France from the British invasion.

Upon learning of her destiny, Jeanne left her home, made a meeting with the Dauphin Charles VII and led the French army. She managed to liberate several cities, including Orleans, after which they began to call her the Maid of Orleans. Soon Charles VII was crowned at Reims, and Jeanne won several more important victories.

On May 23, 1430, near the city of Compiegne, Jeanne d'Arc's detachment was captured by the Burgundians. They handed over the Maid of Orleans to the Duke of Luxembourg, and he, in turn, to the British. There were rumors that the associates of Charles VII had betrayed Jeanne.

The trial of Jeanne d'Arc began in January 1431 in Rouen. The Inquisition brought forward 12 articles of accusation. Meanwhile, in Paris, Henry VI was proclaimed king of France and England. The main purpose of the trial of Jeanne was to prove that Charles VII was enthroned by a sorceress and a heretic.

The trial was led by Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Even before the trial began, he subjected the girl to a medical examination to establish that she was not innocent, and that she had entered into a relationship with the devil. However, the examination showed that Jeanne was virgin, so the court was forced to drop this charge.

Zhanna d'Arc's trial lasted several months. It was full of tricky questions and cunning traps, which, according to the plan of the inquisitors, the girl was supposed to fall into. As a result, on May 29, 1431, the final decision was made to transfer the defendant into the hands of the secular authorities. Jeanne was sentenced to be burned at the stake. On May 30, 1431 the sentence was carried out.

The mentally ill

The legend of the great young warrior was dealt a tangible blow by the famous French historian and philosopher Robert Caratini. In his monograph "Jeanne d" Arc: From Domrés to Orleans, he stated that the story of the Maid of Orleans as we know her has little to do with the truth. which politicians and senior military officials quite skillfully used for their own purposes in order to awaken hatred of England in the hearts of the French.

Caratini writes that all the battles allegedly won by the French under the leadership of Jeanne d'Arc were minor skirmishes like a Russian fist fight at a fair. The French historian also adds that the maiden herself did not participate in any of them, and that she was not never took a sword in my hands.

Robert Caratini argued that Jeanne d'Arc herself did not influence the course of events in any way, but served only as a symbol, a kind of iconic figure with the help of which French politicians whipped up anti-British sentiments.

The French historian also casts doubt on the fact that Jeanne d'Arcs saved the besieged Orleans. This city, writes Caratini, was simply not besieged. An English army of five thousand people roamed the area adjacent to Orleans. In the city itself there was not a single Finally, the French army under the command of Charles VII arrived at the walls of Orleans with a great delay, but this was not followed by any hostilities.

According to Caratini, in 1429 Jeanne d'Arc was indeed listed on military service, however, was in the army as a kind of living talisman. The historian believed that she was an unbalanced girl with clear signs of mental disorder. The reason for such a state of it could be the horrors of the war, but not the Hundred Years, but another - the incessant battle between France and Burgundy. And since Jeanne's native village was on the border, even as a child, an impressionable girl had to contemplate quite a few scary pictures.

The British reacted to Robert Caratini's book with a standing ovation. For more than five centuries, the entire enlightened world condemned the British for the merciless reprisal against the Maid of Orleans, however, this part of history, the French scientist believes, is also fiction.

Jeanne d'Arc was captured in Burgundy. Then the Parisian Sorbonne sent a letter to the Duke of Burgundy asking him to extradite the girl to the university. The Maid of Orleans was tried in Normandy by 126 Sorbonne judges and then executed, but the British did not take any part in all this, says Caratini.

The historian also claims that the legend of Jeanne d'Arc was created only in late XIX century, because the French rulers of that time needed new heroes, and the young maiden, who fell victim to dynastic showdowns, was ideally suited for this role.

Married lady and mother

Rumors that Zhanna d'Arc did not actually die, but escaped, began to spread among the people immediately after her execution. According to one of the versions, which, in particular, is presented in Yefim Chernyak's book "The Judicial Loop", Zhanna d'Arc not only escaped death at the stake, but also got married and gave birth to two sons. Her husband was a man named Robert d'Armoise, whose descendants still consider themselves relatives of the Maid of Orleans and assure that their respected ancestor would not marry a woman for any treasures of the world who would not present him with authentic documents certifying his true origin.

For the first time, the new Jeanne, or, as she was already called, Madame d'Armoise, appeared about five years after her tragic death. In 1436, Jeanne's brother Jean du Lee often handed letters to his sister and went to visit her in the city of Arlon. The corresponding expenditures were recorded in the Orleans ledger.

It is known that this mysterious lady lived in Arlon, where she led a rich social life. In 1439, a miraculously resurrected Jeanne appeared in Orleans, once liberated by her. Judging by the entries in the same register, the inhabitants of Orleans greeted Jeanne d'Armoise more than warmly. She was not only recognized, in honor of her noble townspeople arranged a gala dinner, in addition, Jeanne was presented with 210 livres "for the good service she rendered to this city during the siege." There is circumstantial evidence that at that time the mother of the real Joan of Arc, Isabella Romet, could have been in Orleans.

The resurrected Jeanne was also warmly greeted in Tours, the village of Grand-aux-Orme and in several other settlements. In 1440, on the way to Paris, Madame d'Armouise was arrested, declared an impostor and put on display at the pillar of shame. She repented of taking the name of the Maid of Orleans and was released.

It is said that after the death of her husband Robert d'Armouise, this Jeanne remarried. And at the end of the 50s, the lady was granted an official pardon for daring to impersonate Zhanna d'Arc.

Daughter of the king

Another sensational statement was made by the Ukrainian anthropologist Serhiy Gorbenko: Zhanna d'Arc did not die at the stake, but lived to be 57 years old. He also claims that Jeanne was not a simple country girl, as popular legend has it, but came from the royal dynasty of Valois.

The scientist believes that historical name the famous Virgin of Orleans - Marguerite de Champdiver. Sergei Gorbenko examined the remains in the sarcophagus of the Notre Dame de Cléry San Andre temple near Orleans and discovered that the female skull, which was kept together with the king's skull, did not belong to Queen Charlotte, who died at the age of 38, but to another woman who was not less than 57 years old. The specialist came to the conclusion that in front of him are the remains of the very Joan of Arc, who was in fact the illegitimate princess of the Valois house. Her father was King Charles VI, and her mother was the last mistress of the king, Odette de Champdiver.

The girl was brought up under the supervision of her father-king as a warrior, so she could wear knightly armor. It also explains how Jeanne could write letters (which an illiterate peasant girl could not have done).

According to this version, the death of Jeanne d'Arc was simulated by Charles VII: instead of her, a completely different woman was sent to the fire.

Sister of the king

According to another legend, Joan of Arc was the illegitimate daughter of Queen Isabella, half-sister of King Charles VII. This version explains, in particular, how a simple village girl managed to force the king to accept her, listen, and even believe that it was she who would save France.

In addition, it has always seemed strange to many researchers that a girl from a village family was too well versed in political situation in the country, from childhood she owned a battle spear, which was the privilege of only nobles, she spoke clean French without a provincial accent and allowed herself, without any respect, to communicate with the crowned heads.

There is a version according to which Jeanne d'Arc was called the Maid of Orleans not only because of her release of Orleans, but also because of her involvement in the royal house of Orleans. It is possible that this version has some grounds. In 1407, Queen Isabella did indeed give birth to an illegitimate child, whose father, apparently, was the Duke Louis of Orleans. The baby is believed to have died shortly after, but the grave and remains of this child, whose gender was not indicated in the historical documents of that time, could not be found. Later, in a detailed work on the history of France, which was published in the 18th century, this baby was first called Philip, and in subsequent reprints already Jeanne.

The question of how old Zhanna d'Arc really was when she went to the fire is still controversial. During one of the interrogations, she once indicated her age - "about 19 years old." On another occasion, she already found it difficult to answer this question. However, when Jeanne first met the Dauphin Charles VII, she said that she was "three times seven years old." Thus, it turns out that she was a little older than her canonized age and could well be the same illegitimate child of Queen Isabella.

In the "Trial Loop" it is mentioned that Jeanne was twice subjected to a medical examination. And both times the inspection was carried out by very high-ranking persons: first by Queen Mary of Anjou and Iolanthe of Aragon, then by the Duchess of Bedford, who was Charles VII's own aunt. "You just need to imagine the class differences in medieval society," the author writes, "in order to understand: the honor that Jeanne was awarded could not have been given to a simple shepherdess."

The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources