n
n
n
n
nTherenhave been plays and poems and books written about her; her story hasnbeen told in film, on television, and through video games; she hasninspired paintings and operas and songs and even a modern-day TV showncalled “Joan of Arcadia.”
n
n
n
nShenis a folk hero and a saint.
n
n
n
nAmazingnstuff for an illiterate peasant girl who was born in 1412 and killednwhen she was just 19 years old!
n
n
n
n
Joannof Arc (Jeanne d’Arc) was a French girl who thought she got anmessage from God that she should support Charles VII and fight fornFrance against England late in the Hundred Years’ War. She became ansoldier and helped lift the siege of Orleans in just nine days.nBecause people were impressed by Joan’s spirit and courage—andnperhaps because they were convinced she had a special line to God,nafter her success at Orleans—Joan’s advice was followed throughoutnseveral more battles. This untrained, inexperienced girl planned boldnattacks that went against the previous cautious, “smart” moves bynthe French army—and her boldness succeeded where the earlierncaution had failed.
Joannof Arc (Jeanne d’Arc) was a French girl who thought she got anmessage from God that she should support Charles VII and fight fornFrance against England late in the Hundred Years’ War. She became ansoldier and helped lift the siege of Orleans in just nine days.nBecause people were impressed by Joan’s spirit and courage—andnperhaps because they were convinced she had a special line to God,nafter her success at Orleans—Joan’s advice was followed throughoutnseveral more battles. This untrained, inexperienced girl planned boldnattacks that went against the previous cautious, “smart” moves bynthe French army—and her boldness succeeded where the earlierncaution had failed.n
n
n
nThenFrench army had several quick victories. They were able to negotiatena truce with England and with its French allies, the Burgundians, andnCharles VII was crowned King of France. n
n
n
n
nJoannurged that the French army capitalize on its victories and quicklynmove on to Paris to free it from English/Burgundian rule, but Charlesnand others in the court preferred to keep the truce. However, thenDuke of Burgundy broke his side of the truce after using it as anstalling technique while he strengthened his defenses of Paris.
n
n
n
n
n
nJoannwas captured by the Burgundians. She made several escape attempts,nincluding jumping down from her 70-foot-high tower—but she failednto escape her enemies. Eventually she faced a trial and execution fornheresy—in other words, she was found guilty of not having what hernenemies said were the correct views on religion!
n
n
n
nBynthe way, Joan was apparently very intelligent. Her answers at herntrial, according to court transcripts, were sophisticated andnwell-thought-out—so brilliant, in fact, that 20th-Centurynplaywright George Bernard Shaw judged it couldn’t be improved upon innhis play and just copied parts of the court record. n
n
n
n
nAlsonon this date:
n
n
n
n
Communications Inventions Day
Communications Inventions Day n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nThreenKings Day / Epiphany / Twelfth Night
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nAnniversarynof opening of first Montessori school
n
n
n
n
