Joan of Arc
The only lifetime image of Joan of Arc
Brief description of life:
Joan of Arc is one of the most famous figures of the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453). By the time the king came to the throne Charles VII(1422) France found itself in a critical situation - all of northern France was occupied by the British, the army was extremely weakened, and the question of the independence of the French state arose. The key point became the siege of Orleans by the English (1428).
The capture of this fortress opened up an almost unhindered advance to the south. At that moment, the peasant girl Joan of Arc appeared, claiming that she heard the voices of saints who encouraged her to a military feat and promised her their help.
Zhanna managed to convince her liberation mission military, she received a military detachment and, supported by experienced military leaders and popular faith, inflicted several defeats on the British. The siege of Orleans was lifted.
Jeanne's fame and influence grew enormously. At her insistence, Charles was solemnly crowned in Reims. However, Jeanne's attempt to storm Paris ended unsuccessfully.
Joan of Arc was captured in 1430 and brought to the church court. At the insistence of the British, she was accused of witchcraft, found guilty and burned in Rouen on May 30, 1431. After 25 years, her case was reviewed, she was recognized as innocently convicted , and in 1920 she was canonized.
Netre Dame de Senlis - Cathedral of Our Lady of Senlis Memorial plaque in honor of the 500th anniversary of Joan of Arc's stay here: "On August 15, 1429, she won a victory against the English army of the Duke of Bedford in the Senlis Plain, where she spent from April 23 to 25. She returned back in April 1430."
Siege of Orleans by the British
On March 6, 1429, Joan arrived at the castle Chinon to King Charles VII of France
The Marxist looked:
Jeanne d'Arc (c. 1412, Domremy, Lorraine, - May 30, 1431, Rouen), national heroine of France, who led the liberated struggle of the French people against the British during the Hundred Years' War 1337-1453. The fanatically religious J. d'A., seeing the disasters that befell her homeland, gradually became convinced that she could lead the movement against foreign invaders. Her desire to fight met the aspirations of the French people. With difficulty making her way from the territory occupied by the British and their allies - the Burgundians, in Chinon to the Dauphin Charles, she convinced him to begin decisive military actions. Placed at the head of the army, J. d'A. showed courage and inspired the troops to fight the enemy. She broke through with her troops into Orleans, besieged by the British, and on May 8, 1429, forced them to lift the siege of the city, for which people began to call her the Maid of Orleans. A series of victories won by J. d'A. allowed the Dauphin Charles (Charles VII) to be crowned in Reims on July 17, 1429. However, the king and the aristocratic elite, frightened by the wide scope of the people's war and the growing popularity of J. d'A., actually removed her from the command of the army. On May 23, 1430, during a sortie from the besieged Compiegne, J. d'A., as a result of betrayal, was captured by the Burgundians and sold to the British. The Church Court in Rouen, where the judges were French accomplices of the invaders, accused J. d'A. of heresy and witchcraft and sentenced her to be burned at the stake. 25 years after her execution, at a new church trial in the case of J. d'A., which took place in France in 1456, she was solemnly rehabilitated, and almost five centuries later, in 1920, the Catholic Church canonized her. In memory of the French . people and all humanity J. d "A. remains a shining example without cherished love for the homeland. Nowadays in France, the second Sunday of May is celebrated annually as a holiday in honor of J. d'A.
Used materials from the Soviet Military Encyclopedia in 8 volumes, volume 3: American Civil War, 1861-65 - Yokota. 672 pp., 1977.
Joan of Arc leads the French into battle
Passionary example
Joan of Arc, the Maid of Orleans (1412-1431) - the national heroine of France. During the Hundred Years' War, she led the French fight against the British, in 1429 she liberated the city of Orleans from the siege. In 1430 she was captured by the Burgundians, who gave her away for a lot of money to the British, who declared Jeannou a witch and brought her to the ecclesiastical court. Accused of heresy, with the connivance of Charles VII, she was burned at the stake in Rouen. In 1920, she was canonized by the Catholic Church. Considered Gumilev as an example of a passionary.
Quoted from: Lev Gumilyov. Encyclopedia. / Ch. ed. E.B. Sadykov, comp. T.K. Shanbai, - M., 2013, p. 252.
The image of Jeanne in literature
“We know more about Joan of Arc than about any other of her contemporaries, and at the same time it is difficult to find among the people of the 15th century another person whose image would seem so mysterious to posterity.” (*2) p.5
"...She was born in the village of Domremy in Lorraine in 1412. It is known that she was born of honest and just parents. On Christmas night, when peoples are accustomed to honor the works of Christ in great bliss, she entered the mortal world. And roosters, like "The heralds of new joy, then screamed with an extraordinary, hitherto unheard cry. We saw them flapping their wings for more than two hours, predicting what was destined for this little one." (*1) p.146
This fact is reported by Perceval de Boulainvilliers, the king's adviser and chamberlain, in a letter to the Duke of Milan, which can be called her first biography. But most likely this description is a legend, since not a single chronicle mentions this and the birth of Jeanne did not leave the slightest trace in the memory of fellow villagers - residents of Domremi, who acted as witnesses in the rehabilitation process.
She lived in Domremy with her father, mother and two brothers, Jean and Pierre. Jacques d'Arc and Isabella were, according to local standards, “not very rich.” (For a more detailed description of the family, see (*2) pp. 41-43)
"Not far from the village where Zhanna grew up, there was a very beautiful tree, "fair as a lily," as one witness remarked; On Sundays, village boys and girls gathered near the tree, they danced around it and washed themselves with water from a nearby spring. The tree was called the tree of fairies; they said that in ancient times wonderful creatures, fairies, danced around it. Zhanna also often went there, but she never saw a single fairy." (*5) p.417, see (*2) pp. 43-45
“When she was 12 years old, the first revelation came to her. Suddenly a shining cloud appeared before her eyes, from which a voice was heard: “Jeanne, it behooves you to go a different way and perform wonderful deeds, for you are the one whom the King of Heaven chose for protection.” King Charles.." (*1) p.146
“At first I was very frightened. I heard a voice during the day, it was in the summer in my father’s garden. The day before I was fasting. The voice came to me from the right side, from where the church was, and from the same side came great holiness. This the voice always guided me." Later, the voice began to appear to Jeanne every day and insisted that she needed to "go and lift the siege from the city of Orleans." The voices called her “Jeanne de Pucelle, daughter of God” - in addition to the first voice, which, as Jeanne thinks, belonged to the Archangel Michael, the voices of Saint Margaret and Saint Catherine were soon added. To all those who tried to block her path, Jeanne reminded them of an ancient prophecy that said that “a woman will destroy France, and a virgin will save it.” (The first part of the prophecy came true when Isabella of Bavaria forced her husband, the French king Charles VI, to declare their son Charles VII illegitimate, with the result that by the time of Joanna Charles VII was not king, but only the Dauphin)." (*5) p.417
“I came here to the royal chamber in order to speak with Robert de Baudricourt, so that he would take me to the king or order his people to take me; but he paid no attention to me or my words; nevertheless, I need to appear before the king in the first half of Lent, even if for this I will wipe off my legs to the knees; know that no one - neither the king, nor the duke, nor the daughter of the Scottish king, nor anyone else - can restore the French kingdom; salvation can only come from me, and although I would prefer to stay with my poor mother and spin, this is not my destiny: I must go, and I will do it, for my Master wants me to act in this way." (*3) page 27
Three times she had to turn to Robert de Baudricourt. After the first time, she was sent home, and her parents decided to marry her off. But Zhanna herself ended the engagement through the court.
“Time passed slowly for her, “like a woman expecting a child,” she said, so slowly that she could not stand it and one fine morning, accompanied by her uncle, the devoted Durand Laxart, a resident of Vaucouleurs named Jacques Alain set off ; her companions bought a horse for her, which cost them twelve francs. But they did not go far: arriving at Saint-Nicolas-de-Saint-Fonds, which was on the road to Sauvroy, Jeanne declared: “This is not the proper way for us to depart,” and the travelers returned to Vaucouleurs (*3) page 25
One fine day a messenger arrived from Nancy from the Duke of Lorraine.
“Duke Charles II of Lorraine gave Jeanne a gracious welcome. He invited her to his place in Nancy. Charles of Lorraine was not at all an ally of Charles Valois; on the contrary, he took a position of hostile neutrality towards France, gravitating towards England.
She told the Duke (Charles of Lorraine) to give her his son and people who would take her to France, and she would pray to God for his health." Jeanne called his son-in-law, Rene of Anjou, the son of the Duke. "Good King Rene" (famous later as a poet and patron of the arts), was married to the Duke’s eldest daughter and his heir Isabella... This meeting strengthened Jeanne’s position in public opinion... Baudricourt (commandant of Vaucouleurs) changed his attitude towards Jeanne and agreed to send her to the Dauphin." (*2) p.79
There is a version that Rene d'Anjou was a master secret order"Sion Priory" and helped Jeanne fulfill her mission. (See chapter "René d'Anjou")
Already in Vaucouleurs, she puts on a man's suit and goes across the country to the Dauphin Charles. Tests are ongoing. In Chinon, under the name of the Dauphin, another is introduced to her, but Jeanne unmistakably finds Charles out of 300 knights and greets him. During this meeting, Jeanne tells the Dauphin something or shows some kind of sign, after which Karl begins to believe her.
“The story of Jeanne herself to Jean Pasquerel, her confessor: “When the king saw her, he asked Jeanne her name, and she answered: “Dear Dauphin, I am called Jeanne the Virgin, and through my lips the King of Heaven addresses you and says that you will accept anointing and you will be crowned in Reims and become the viceroy of the King of Heaven, the true king of France." After other questions asked by the king, Jeanne again told him: “I tell you in the name of the Almighty that you are the true heir of France and the son of the king, and He sent me to you to lead you to Reims so that you could be crowned and anointed there.” , if you want." Hearing this, the king informed those present that Jeanne had initiated him into a certain secret that no one except God knew and could not know; that's why he trusts her completely. “I heard all this,” concludes Brother Pasquerel, “from the lips of Jeanne, since I myself was not present.” (*3) p. 33
But, nevertheless, an investigation begins, detailed information is collected about Jeanne, who at this time is in Poitiers, where the college of learned theologians of the Bishopric of Poitiers must make its decision.
“Believing that precautions are never superfluous, the king decided to increase the number of those entrusted with interrogating the girl, and to choose the most worthy of them; and they were to gather in Poitiers. Jeanne was settled in the house of Maitre Jean Rabateau, a lawyer of the Parisian Parliament, who joined the king two years earlier, several women were assigned to secretly monitor her behavior.
François Garivel, the king's adviser, clarifies that Jeanne was interrogated several times and the investigation took about three weeks." (*3) p. 43
“A certain lawyer of parliament, Jean Barbon: “From learned theologians who studied her with passion and asked her many questions, I heard that she answered very carefully, as if she were a good scientist, so that they were amazed by her answers. They believed that there was something divine in her very life and her behavior; in the end, after all the interrogations and inquiries carried out by the scientists, they came to the conclusion that there was nothing bad in it, nothing contrary to the Catholic faith and that, taking into account the plight of the king and the kingdom - after all, the king and the inhabitants of the kingdom loyal to him were in This time they were in despair and did not know what kind of help they could hope for, if only not for the help of God - the king can accept her help." (*3) p. 46
During this period, she acquires a sword and a banner. (see chapter "Sword. Banner.")
“In all likelihood, by giving Jeanne the right to have a personal banner, the Dauphin equated her with the so-called “banner knights” who commanded detachments of their people.
Jeanne had under her command a small detachment, which consisted of a retinue, several soldiers and servants. The retinue included a squire, a confessor, two pages, two heralds, as well as Jean of Metz and Bertrand de Poulangy and Jeanne's brothers, Jacques and Pierre, who joined her in Tours. Even in Poitiers, the Dauphin entrusted the protection of the Virgin to the experienced warrior Jean d'Olon, who became her squire. In this brave and noble man, Jeanne found a mentor and friend. He taught her military affairs, with him she spent all her campaigns, he was next to her in all the battles, assaults and sorties. They were captured together by the Burgundians, but she was sold to the British, and he ransomed his freedom and a quarter of a century later, already a knight, a royal adviser and, occupying a prominent position as seneschal of one of the southern French provinces, At the request of the rehabilitation commission, he wrote very interesting memoirs in which he spoke about many important episodes in the history of Joan of Arc. We have also reached the testimony of one of Jeanne’s pages, Louis de Coutes; about the second - Raymond - we know nothing. Jeanne's confessor was the Augustinian monk Jean Pasquerel; He has very detailed testimony, but obviously not everything in it is reliable. (*2) p.130
“In Tours, a military retinue was assembled for Jeanne, as befits a military leader; quartermaster Jean d’Olon was appointed, who testifies: “For her protection and escort, I was placed at her disposal by the king, our lord”; she also has two pages - Louis de Coutes and Raymond. Two heralds, Ambleville and Guienne, were also under her command; Heralds are messengers dressed in livery that allows them to be identified. Heralds were inviolable.
Since Jeanne was given two messengers, it means that the king began to treat her like any other high-ranking warrior, vested with authority and bearing personal responsibility for his actions.
The royal troops were supposed to gather in Blois... It was in Blois, while the army was there, that Jeanne ordered a banner... Jeanne's confessor was touched by the almost religious appearance of the marching army: “When Jeanne set out from Blois to go to Orleans, she asked to gather all the priests around this banner , and the priests walked ahead of the army... and sang antiphons... the same thing happened the next day. And on the third day they approached Orleans." (*3) page 58
Karl hesitates. Zhanna hurries him. The liberation of France begins with the lifting of the siege of Orleans. This is the first military victory of the army loyal to Charles under the leadership of Jeanne, which is also a sign of her divine mission. "See R. Pernu, M.-V. Clain, Joan of Arc / p. 63-69/
It took Jeanne 9 days to liberate Orleans.
"The sun was already setting to the west, and the French were still unsuccessfully fighting for the ditch of the forward fortification. Jeanne jumped on her horse and went into the fields. Away from view... Jeanne plunged into prayer among the vines. The unheard-of endurance and will of a seventeen-year-old girl allowed her to make this decisive a moment to escape from her own tension, from the despondency and exhaustion that gripped everyone, now she found external and internal silence - when only inspiration can arise..."
"...But then the unprecedented happened: the arrows fell out of their hands, the people, confused, looked into the sky. Saint Michael, surrounded by a whole host of angels, appeared shining in the shimmering Orleans sky. The Archangel fought on the side of the French." (*1) page 86
"... the English, seven months after the beginning of the siege and nine days after the Virgin occupied the city, retreated without a fight, every last one, and this happened on May 8 (1429), on the day when St. Michael appeared in distant Italy on Monte Gargano and on the island of Ischia...
The magistrate wrote in the city register that the liberation of Orleans was the greatest miracle of the Christian era. Since then, throughout the centuries, the valiant city has solemnly dedicated this day to the Virgin, the day of May 8, designated in the calendar as the feast of the Apparition of the Archangel Michael.
Many modern critics argue that the victory at Orleans can only be attributed to accidents or to the inexplicable refusal of the British to fight. And yet Napoleon, who thoroughly studied Joan’s campaigns, declared that she was a genius in military affairs, and no one would dare to say that he did not understand strategy.
The English biographer of Joan of Arc, V. Sanquill West, writes today that the entire mode of action of her fellow countrymen who participated in those events seems to her so strange and slow that it can only be explained by supernatural reasons: “Reasons about which are we in the light of our twentieth century science - or perhaps in the darkness of our twentieth century science? - we don’t know anything.” (*1) p.92-94
“To meet the king after the siege was lifted, Jeanne and the Bastard of Orleans went to Loches: “She rode out to meet the king, holding her banner in her hand, and they met,” says a German chronicle of that time, which brought us a lot of information. When the girl bowed her head before the king as low as she could, the king immediately ordered her to rise, and they thought that he almost kissed her from the joy that overwhelmed him." This was May 11, 1429.
Word of Jeanne's feat spread throughout Europe, which showed extraordinary interest in what had happened. The author of the chronicle we quoted is a certain Eberhard Windeken, treasurer of Emperor Sigismund; Obviously, the emperor showed great interest in the deeds of Jeanne and ordered to find out about her. (*3) p.82
We can judge the reaction outside France from a very interesting source. This is the Chronicle of Antonio Morosini... partly a collection of letters and reports. Letter from Pancrazzo Giustiniani to his father, from Bruges to Venice, dated May 10, 1429: “A certain Englishman named Lawrence Trent, a respectable man and not a talker, writes, seeing that this is said in the reports of so many worthy and trustworthy people: “ It drives me crazy." He reports that many of the barons treated her with respect, as did the commoners, and those who laughed at her died a bad death. Nothing, however, is as clear as her undisputed victory in debate with the masters of theology, so that it seems as if she is the second Saint Catherine who descended to earth, and many knights who heard what amazing speeches she made every day consider this a great miracle... They further report that this girl must perform two great deeds, and then die. God help her..." How does she appear before a Venetian of the Quartocento era, before a merchant, diplomat and intelligence officer, that is, before a person of a completely different culture, of a different psychological make-up than herself and her entourage?... Giustiniani is confused." (*2) p.146
"...The girl has an attractive appearance and masculine posture, she speaks little and shows a wonderful mind; she speaks pleasantly in a high voice, as befits a woman. She is moderate in food, and even more moderate in her wine drinking. She finds pleasure in beautiful horses and weapons. Virgo finds many meetings and conversations unpleasant. Her eyes often fill with tears, and she also loves fun. He endures unheard-of hard labor, and when he carries weapons, he shows such tenacity that he can continuously remain fully armed day and night for six days. She says that the English have no right to rule France, and for this, she says, God sent her so that she would drive them out and defeat them..."
"Guy de Laval, a young nobleman who joined the royal army, describes her with admiration: "I saw her, in armor and in full battle gear, with a small ax in her hand, mounting her huge black war horse at the exit of the house , who was in great impatience and did not allow himself to be saddled; then she said: “Take him to the cross,” which was located in front of the church on the road. Then she jumped into the saddle, but he did not move, as if he was tied. And then she turned to the church gates, which were very close to her: “And you, priests, arrange a procession and pray to God.” And then she set off, saying: “Hurry forward, hurry forward.” A pretty page carried her unfurled banner, and she held an ax in her hand." (*3) p.89
Gilles de Rais: “She is a child. She has never harmed an enemy, no one has ever seen her hit anyone with a sword. After every battle she mourns the fallen, before every battle she communes with the Body of the Lord - most warriors do this together with her, - and at the same time she does not say anything. Not a single thoughtless word comes from her mouth - in this she is as mature as many men. No one ever swears around her, and people like it, although all of them "The wives stayed at home. Needless to say, she never takes off her armor if she sleeps next to us, and then, despite all her cuteness, not a single man feels carnal desire for her." (*1) p.109
“Jean Alençon, who was the commander-in-chief in those days, recalled many years later: “She understood everything that had to do with war: she could stick a pike and review the troops, line up the army in battle formation and place guns. Everyone was surprised that she was so prudent in her affairs, like a combat commander with twenty or thirty years of experience." (*1) p.118
“Jeanne was a beautiful and charming girl, and all the men who met her felt it. But this feeling was the most genuine, that is, the highest, transformed, virgin, returned to that state of “God’s love” that Nuyonpon noted in himself.” (*4) p.306
" - This is very strange, and we can all testify to this: when she rides with us, birds from the forest flock and sit on her shoulders. In battle, it happens that pigeons begin to flutter near her." (*1) p.108
“I remember that in the report drawn up by my colleagues about her life, it was written that in her homeland in Domremy, birds of prey flocked to her when she was grazing cows in the meadow, and, sitting on her lap, pecked at the crumbs that she was pinching off bread. Her flock was never attacked by a wolf, and on the night she was born - on Epiphany - various unusual things were noticed with animals... And why not? Animals are also God's creatures... (*1) page 108
“It seems that in the presence of Jeanne the air became transparent for those people for whom the cruel night had not yet darkened their minds, and in those years there were more such people than is commonly believed today.” (*1) p.66
Her ecstasies proceeded as if outside of time, in ordinary activities, but without disconnection from the latter. She heard her Voices amidst the fighting, but continued to command the troops; heard during interrogations, but continued to answer theologians. This can also be evidenced by her cruelty when, near Turelli, she pulled out an arrow from her wound, ceasing to feel physical pain during ecstasy. And I must add that she was excellent at identifying her Voices in time: at such and such an hour when the bells were ringing." (*4) p.307
“Rupertus Geyer, that same “anonymous” cleric,” understood Jeanne’s personality correctly: if it is possible to find some kind of historical analogy for her, then it is best to compare Jeanne with the Sibyls, these prophetesses of the pagan era, through whose mouths the gods spoke. But there was a huge difference between them and Zhanna. The Sibyls were influenced by the forces of nature: sulfur fumes, intoxicating odors, babbling streams. In a state of ecstasy, they expressed things that they immediately forgot about as soon as they came to their senses. In everyday life they did not have any high insights, they were blank slates on which to write forces that could not be controlled. “For the prophetic gift inherent in them is like a board on which nothing is written, it is unreasonable and uncertain,” wrote Plutarch.
Through the lips of Joan they also spoke spheres whose boundaries no one knew; she could fall into ecstasy at prayer, at the ringing of bells, in a quiet field or in a forest, but it was such an ecstasy, such a transcendence of ordinary feelings, which she controlled and from which she could emerge with a sober mind and awareness of her own self, in order to then translate what he saw and heard into the language of earthly words and earthly actions. What was available to the pagan priestesses in an eclipse of feelings detached from the world, Jeanne perceived in a clear consciousness and reasonable moderation. She rode and fought with men, she slept with women and children, and, like all of them, Jeanne could laugh. Simply and clearly, without omissions or secrets, she spoke about what was about to happen: “Wait, three more days, then we will take the city”; “Be patient, in an hour you will become winners.” Virgo deliberately removed the veil of mystery from her life and actions; Only she herself remained a mystery. Since the impending disaster was predicted for her, she closed her lips, and no one knew about the gloomy news. Always, even before her death at the stake, Zhanna was aware of what she could say and what she could not say.
Since the days of the Apostle Paul, women who “speak in tongues” in Christian communities were required to remain silent, for “the spirit who gives inspiration is responsible for speaking in tongues, but the speaking person is responsible for intelligent prophetic words.” Spiritual language must be translated into the language of people, so that a person accompanies the speech of the spirit with his mind; and only what a person can understand and assimilate with his own reason should he express in words.
Joan of Arc in those weeks managed to prove more clearly than ever that she was responsible for her intelligent words of prophecy and that she spoke them - or remained silent - while in her right mind. (*1) page 192
After the siege of Orleans was lifted, disputes began in the Royal Council about the direction of the campaign. At the same time, Jeanne was of the opinion that it was necessary to go to Reims to crown the king. “She argued that as soon as the king is crowned and anointed, the power of the enemies will decrease all the time and in the end they will no longer be able to harm either the king or the kingdom” p. 167.
Under these conditions, the coronation of the Dauphin in Reims became an act of proclamation of the state independence of France. This was the main political goal of the campaign.
But the courtiers did not advise Charles to undertake a campaign against Reims, saying that on the way from Gien to Reims there were many fortified cities, castles and fortresses with garrisons of English and Burgundians. Jeanne's enormous authority in the army played a decisive role, and on June 27, the Virgin led the vanguard of the army to Reimstr. A new stage of the liberation struggle began. Moreover, the liberation of Troyes decided the outcome of the entire campaign. The success of the campaign exceeded the wildest expectations: in less than three weeks the army covered almost three hundred kilometers and reached its final destination without firing a single shot, without leaving a single burned village or plundered city along the way. The enterprise, which at first seemed so difficult and dangerous, turned into a triumphal march.
On Sunday 17 July, Charles was crowned at Reims Cathedral. Jeanne stood in the cathedral, holding a banner in her hand. Then at the trial they will ask her: “Why was your banner brought into the cathedral during the coronation in preference to the banners of other captains?” And she will answer: “It was in labor and by right should have been honored.”
But then events unfold less triumphantly. Instead of a decisive offensive, Charles concludes a strange truce with the Burgundians. On January 21, the army returned to the banks of the Laura and the bvla was immediately disbanded. But Zhanna continues to fight, but at the same time suffers one defeat after another. Having learned that the Burgundians have besieged Compiegne, she rushes to the rescue. Virgo enters the city on May 23, and in the evening, during a sortie, she is captured.....
“For the last time in her life, on the evening of May 23, 1430, Jeanne stormed the enemy camp, for the last time she took off her armor, a standard with the image of Christ and the face of an angel was taken away from her. The fight on the battlefield was over. What began now at the age of 18 , was a fight with a different weapon and with a different opponent, but, as before, it was a struggle for life and death. At that moment, the history of mankind was accomplished through Joan of Arc. Saint Margaret's behest was fulfilled; The hour for the fulfillment of St. Catherine's behest has struck. Earthly knowledge was preparing to fight with wisdom, in the morning rays of which the Virgin Jeanne lived, fought and suffered. In the tide of change the centuries were already approaching when the forces of God-denying scholarship began a bloodless but inexorable offensive against man's dawning memory of his divine origin, when human minds and hearts became the arena in which fallen angels fought with the archangel named Michael, the herald of the will of Christ . Everything that Jeanne did served France, England, new Europe; it was a challenge, a shining riddle for all the peoples of subsequent eras." (*1) p. 201
Jeanne spent six months in captivity in Burgundy. She waited for help but in vain. The French government did nothing to help her out of trouble. At the end of 1430, the Burgundians sold Jeanne to the British, who immediately brought her before the Inquisition.
A year has passed since the day when Zhanna was captured... A year and one day...
Behind us was Burgundy captivity. There were two escape attempts behind us. The second almost ended tragically: Zhanna jumped out of a window on the top floor. This gave the judges a reason to accuse her of the mortal sin of attempted suicide. Her explanations were simple: “I did it not out of hopelessness, but in the hope of saving my body and going to the aid of many nice people who need it.”
Behind her was the iron cage in which she was kept for the first time in Rouen, in the basement of the royal castle of Bouverey. Then the interrogations began, she was transferred to a cell. Five English soldiers guarded her all day long, and at night they were chained to the wall with an iron chain.
Behind were grueling interrogations. Each time she was bombarded with dozens of questions. Traps awaited her at every step. One hundred thirty-two members of the tribunal: cardinals, bishops, professors of theology, learned abbots, monks and priests... And a young girl who, in her own words, “doesn’t know either a or b.”
…. Behind were those two days at the end of March when she was familiarized with the indictment. In seventy articles, the prosecutor listed the criminal acts, speeches and thoughts of the defendant. But Zhanna deflected one accusation after another. The two-day reading of the indictment ended in the defeat of the prosecutor. The judges were convinced that the document they had drawn up was no good, and replaced it with another.
The second version of the indictment contained only 12 articles. The unimportant things were eliminated, the most important things remained: “voices and knowledge”, a man’s suit, a “fairy tree”, the seduction of the king and the refusal to submit to the militant church.
They decided to abandon torture “so as not to give a reason for slandering the exemplary trial.”
All this is behind us, and now Zhanna was brought to the cemetery, surrounded by guards, raised above the crowd, shown the executioner and began to read the verdict. This entire procedure, thought out to the smallest detail, was calculated to cause mental shock and fear of death in her. At some point, Zhanna cannot stand it and agrees to submit to the will of the church. “Then,” the protocol says, “in front of a great many clergy and laity, she pronounced the formula of renunciation, following the text of the letter drawn up in French, which letter she signed with her own hand.” Most likely, the formula of the official protocol is a forgery, the purpose of which is to retroactively extend Jeanne’s renunciation to all her previous activities. Perhaps at the Saint-Ouen cemetery, Jeanne did not renounce her past. She only agreed to submit henceforth to the orders of the church court.
However, the political goal of the process was achieved. The English government could notify the entire Christian world that the heretic had publicly repented of her crimes.
But, having snatched words of repentance from the girl, the organizers of the trial did not at all consider the matter over. It was only half done, because Jeanne’s abdication was to be followed by her execution.
The Inquisition had for this purpose by simple means. It was only necessary to prove that after her renunciation she committed a “relapse into heresy”: a person who relapsed into heresy was subject to immediate execution. Before her abdication, Jeanne was promised that if she repented, she would be transferred to the women's section of the archbishop's prison and the shackles would be removed. But instead, on Cauchon's orders, she was taken back to her old cell. There she changed into a woman's dress and had her head shaved. The shackles were not removed and the English guards were not removed.
Two days have passed. On Sunday, May 27, rumors spread throughout the city that the convict had once again put on a men's suit. She was asked who forced her to do this. “Nobody,” Zhanna answered. I did it of my own free will and without any coercion.” On the evening of that day, the protocol of Zhanna's last interrogation appeared - a tragic document in which Zhanna herself talks about everything that she experienced after her renunciation: about the despair that gripped her when she realized that she had been deceived, about the contempt for herself because that she was afraid of death, about how she cursed herself for betrayal, she herself said this word, - and about the victory that she won - about the most difficult of all her victories, because it is a victory over the fear of death .
There is a version according to which Jeanne was forced to wear a man's suit (See page 188 Raitses V.I. Joan of Arc. Facts, legends, hypotheses."
Jeanne learned that she would be executed at dawn on Wednesday, May 30, 1431. She was taken out of prison, put on a cart and taken to the place of execution. She was wearing a long dress and a hat...
Execution of Joan of Arc: Medieval image
Only a few hours later the fire was allowed to go out.
And when it was all over, according to Ladvenu, “at about four o’clock in the afternoon,” the executioner came to the Dominican monastery, “to me,” says Izambar, “and to brother Ladvenu, in extreme and terrible repentance, as if despairing of receiving forgiveness from God.” for what he did to what he called a holy woman." And he also told them both that, having climbed onto the scaffold to remove everything, he found her heart and other entrails unburned; he was required to burn everything, but, although he several times placed burning brushwood and coals around Jeanne’s heart, he could not turn it into ashes” (Massel, for his part, relays the same story of the executioner from the words of the deputy of the Rouen bailiff). Finally, struck. , “like an obvious miracle,” he stopped tormenting this Heart, put the Burning Bush in a bag along with everything that was left of the Virgin’s flesh, and threw the bag, as expected, into the hay. The imperishable heart was gone forever from human eyes and hands.” (*1)
.... Twenty-five years passed and finally - after a trial in which one hundred and fifteen witnesses were heard (her mother was also present) - in the presence of the papal legate, Jeanne was rehabilitated and recognized as the beloved daughter of the Church and France. (*1) page 336
With all my short fate Joan of Arc, “earthly angel and heavenly girl,” again and with unprecedented power declared the reality of the Living God and the Heavenly Church.
In 1920 after the Nativity of Christ, in the four hundred and ninetieth year after the Bonfire, the Roman Church canonized her as a saint and recognized her mission as true, in fulfilling which she saved France. (*1)
Five and a half centuries have passed since the day when Joan of Arc was burned in the Old Market Square in Rouen. She was then nineteen years old.
Almost all her life - seventeen years - she was an unknown Jeannette from Domremy. Her neighbors will later say: “she’s like everyone else.” "like others."
For one year—just one year—she was the glorified Virgin Joan, the savior of France. Her comrades will later say: “as if she were a captain who spent twenty or thirty years in the war.”
And for another year - a whole year - she was a prisoner of war and a defendant in the Inquisition Tribunal. Her judges will later say: “a great scientist - even he would have difficulty answering the questions that were asked of her.”
Of course, she was not like everyone else. Of course, she was not the captain. And she certainly wasn't a scientist. And at the same time, she had it all.
Centuries pass. But every generation again and again turns to such a simple and infinitely complex story of the girl from Domremy. Appeals to understand. Applies to become familiar with enduring moral values. For if history is the teacher of life, then the epic of Joan of Arc is one of her great lessons. (*2) p.194
Material used from the site http://www.newacropol.ru
Monument to Joan of Arc.
Photo from the site http://www.newacropol.ru
Read further:
Protocols of the indictment of Joan of Arc (document)
Charles VII (biographical information)
Chronicle of Joan of Arc (chronological table)
Literature:
Maria Josepha, Crook von Potucin Joan of Arc. Moscow "Enigma" 1994.
Raitses V. I. Jeanne d'Arc. Facts, legends, hypotheses. Leningrad "Science" 1982.
R. Pernu, M. V. Klen. Joan of Arc. M., 1992.
Devotees. Selected biographies and works. Samara, AGNI, 1994.
Bauer W., Dumotz I., Golovin PAGE. Encyclopedia of symbols, M., KRON-PRESS, 1995
Marx K. Chronological extracts, 2.- Archives of Marx and Engels. T. 6;
Chernyak E. B. The verdict of centuries (From the history of politics, processes in the West). M., 1971,
Levandovsky A. P. Jeanne d'Arc. M., 1962;
Rosenthal N. N. Joan of Arc. People's heroine of France. M., 1958,
Dragomirov M.I. Joan of Arc. Essay. St. Petersburg, 1838.
Biography and episodes of life Joan of Arc. When born and died Joan of Arc, memorable places and dates of important events in her life. Saint Quotes, images and videos.
Years of life of Joan of Arc:
born 6 January 1412, died 30 May 1431
Epitaph
"Listen, in the night -
France cries:
Come again and save me, meek martyr
Zhanna!
From the prayer of Saint Therese of Lisieux
Biography
The name of Joan of 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 Joan shone from her ascension into the heavens to her crown of martyrdom for less than two years. There are many legends around this historical figure; there is no certainty even about the correct year of Jeanne’s birth. But one thing is certain: the young, inexperienced girl accomplished in her short life what seemed impossible.
Zhanna was born into a family of either wealthy peasants or impoverished nobles - historians have disagreements on this matter. At the age of 13, she first heard voices and saw saints who told her that her destiny was to lead an army and drive out the English invaders from her native land. At the age of 16, Jeanne went to the captain of the city of Vaucouleurs, who laughed at her. But the girl did not give up, and in the end she was assigned a detachment to travel to Chinon, where the uncrowned Dauphin Charles was at that time.
Having achieved an audience with the Dauphin, Jeanne passed all the tests that were prepared to test her, and eventually 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 liberated Orleans from the siege of the British in 4 days, while the French commanders could not cope with this for many months. After this victory, Jeanne received the nickname “Maid of Orleans” and moved towards Patay, winning one victory after another. IN last battle The British troops were defeated, and Jeanne summoned the Dauphin to Reims for the coronation.
“Joan of Arc at the Coronation of Charles VII”, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, 1854
The campaign to Reims was called “bloodless”: the presence of Jeanne convinced the inhabitants of the cities on whose side God was on. But after the coronation, the wary and cautious Karl did not allow Jeanne to develop her success. The courtiers also did not favor the Maid of Orleans. Finally, during the siege of Compiegne, Jeanne was betrayed by her own comrades, captured by the Burgundians and sold to the British for 10,000 gold livres.
The trial of Joan of Arc officially accused her of having relations with the devil, but was paid entirely from English pockets. In order to prevent her from receiving the crown of a martyr, they tried to get Jeanne to admit guilt, but to no avail. In the end, Jeanne's signature on the relevant document was obtained fraudulently, 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, having actually organized 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 that all materials from the trial be collected and the case reinvestigated. Joan of Arc was completely acquitted, and more than four centuries later she was canonized.
“Joan of Arc” by John Everett Millais, 1865
Life line
January 6, 1412 Date of birth of Joan of Arc.
1425 Appearances of the saints to Joan.
March 1429 Arrival in Chinon and audience with the Dauphin Charles.
May 1429 The first victory of Joan of Arc and the lifting of the siege of Orleans.
June 1429 A rapid series of victories and the complete defeat of the English troops at the Battle of Pat.
July 1429 Presence at the solemn confirmation of Charles in Reims.
September 1429 Dissolution of Joan's army.
May 1430 Captivity of Joan of Arc by the Burgundians.
November-December 1430 Transporting Jeanne to Rouen.
21 February 1431 The trial of Joan of Arc begins.
30 May 1431 Date of death of Joan of Arc.
1455 Start of retrial.
1456 Acquittal of Joan of Arc on all counts of the previous indictment.
May 16, 1920 Canonization of Joan of Arc.
Memorable places
1. The house in Domremy, 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. The site of the Battle of Pat, in which Joan's army defeated the British.
5. Reims Cathedral, the traditional place of coronation of French monarchs, where the Dauphin Charles was anointed in the presence of Joan.
6. Compiegne, where Joan was captured.
7. Tower of Joan of Arc in Rouen, former part Rouen Castle, where, according to legend, Joan was kept during her trial.
8. House No. 102 on the street. Joan of Arc, in the courtyard of which are the remains of the foundation of the Tower of the Virgin, where Joan was actually kept.
9. Monument and church at the site of the execution of Joan of Arc on the Old Market Square in Rouen.
Episodes of life
Belief in Joan of Arc was based largely on a prophecy that said that the maiden would save France. After her appearance at the Dauphin Charles, the latter checked her different ways, but Jeanne really turned out to be a girl, and besides, she recognized Charles, who had placed another person on the throne and was mingling among the crowd of courtiers.
Joan herself never used the surname “d’Arc” and called herself only “Jeanne the Virgin.” There is an opinion that the British contributed to the spread of the name “Joan of Arc” because of its consonance with the word “dark” - “dark”.
Jeanne preferred to wear men's clothing because it was more comfortable in battle and less embarrassing to 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 this. Nevertheless, wearing men's clothing appeared as one of the charges proving Jeanne's connection with the devil.
Monument by Maxime Real del Sarte at the site of the execution of Joan of Arc
Testaments
“For God to grant victory, soldiers must fight.”
“We will get peace only at the end of the spear.”
Documentary film “The Controversial History of Joan of 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 the crown of a martyr on her brow, with a sword in her hand, with which she cut the bonds of her homeland - won’t she, precisely she, remain a symbol of PATRIOTISM until the end of time?
Mark Twain, writer, author of Joan of Arc
“The famous Joan of Arc proved that the French genius can work miracles when freedom is in danger.”
Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France
“Joan of Arc could remain a rural seer, could prophesy and heal. She could have ended her work as a revered abbess, or even a respected citizen. There were ways to everything. But the Great Law had to find in it another bright evidence of the Truth. The flame of her heart, the flame of the fire - the fiery crown - all this is far beyond ordinary laws. Even beyond the ordinary human imagination.”
Nicholas Roerich, artist and philosopher
Every second Sunday in May, France celebrates the Day of Remembrance of Joan of Arc, the famous Maid of Orleans, who led the French army during the Hundred Years' War, 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 Joan of Arc took place in Rouen on May 30, 1431. 25 years after her execution, she was rehabilitated and recognized as a national heroine, and in the 20th century, the Catholic Church declared her a saint. This is official version. But many myths and legends are associated with Joan of Arc. According to some sources, the Maid of Orleans was a village shepherdess, according to others, a noble lady.
Shepherdess
According to the most common version, Joan of Arc was born into the family of a village headman in the village of Domremy on the border of Alsace in 1412. One day she heard the voices of Saints Catherine and Margaret, who told her that she was destined to save France from the invasion of the English.
Having learned about her destiny, Zhanna left native home, achieved a meeting with the Dauphin Charles VII and led the French army. She managed to liberate several cities, including Orleans, after which she began to be called the Maid of Orleans. Soon Charles VII was crowned in Reims, and Joan won several more important victories.
On May 23, 1430, near the city of Compiegne, Joan of Arc’s detachment was captured by the Burgundians. They handed over the Maid of Orleans to the Duke of Luxembourg, and he, in turn, handed over to the British. There were rumors that those close to Charles VII had betrayed Joan.
The trial of Joan of Arc began in January 1431 in Rouen. The Inquisition brought forward 12 charges. Meanwhile, in Paris, Henry VI was proclaimed king of France and England. The main purpose of Joan's trial was to prove that Charles VII was elevated to the throne by a witch and heretic.
Bishop Pierre Cauchon conducted the trial. Even before the trial began, he subjected the girl medical examination to establish that she was not innocent, and that she had entered into a relationship with the devil. However, an examination showed that Zhanna was a virgin, so the court was forced to abandon this charge.
The trial of Joan of Arc lasted several months. It was full of tricky questions and cunning traps, into which, according to the inquisitors, the girl was supposed to fall. As a result, on May 29, 1431, a final decision was made to transfer the defendant into the hands of secular authorities. Jeanne was sentenced to be burned at the stake. On May 30, 1431, the sentence was carried out.
Mentally ill
The legend of the great young warrior was dealt a significant blow by the famous French historian and philosopher Robert Caratini. In his monograph "Joan of Arc: from Domremy to Orleans" he stated that the story of the Maid of Orleans as we know it has little to do with the truth. The expert claims that in fact Joan was a mentally ill girl, which politicians and senior military officials quite skillfully used for their own purposes to awaken hatred of England in the souls of the French.
Caratini writes that all the battles that were supposedly won by the French under the leadership of Joan of 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 did not I've never picked up a sword in my life.
Robert Caratini argued that Joan of 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-English sentiments.
The French historian also questions the fact that Joan of Arc saved the besieged Orleans. This city, writes Caratini, was simply not besieged by anyone. An English army of five thousand people wandered around the area adjacent to Orleans. There was not a single one in the city itself at that time French soldier Finally, the French army under the command of Charles VII arrived at the walls of Orleans with great delay, but this was not followed by any military action.
According to Caratini, in 1429 Joan of Arc was actually listed as military service, however, she remained among the troops as a kind of living talisman. The historian believed that she was an unbalanced girl, with obvious signs of mental illness. The reason for her condition could be the horrors of the war, but not the Hundred Years' War, but another - the ongoing battle between France and Burgundy. And since Jeanne’s native village was located on the border, even as a child the impressionable girl had to see quite a lot of scary pictures.
The British responded to Robert Caratini's book with applause. For more than five centuries, the entire enlightened world condemned the British for the merciless reprisal of the Maid of Orleans, however, this part of the story, the French scientist believes, is also fiction.
Joan of Arc was captured in Burgundy. Then the Sorbonne of Paris sent a letter to the Duke of Burgundy with a request to hand over the girl to the university. However, the Duke refused the Sorbonne. After holding Joan for eight months, he sold her to Henry VI of England for 10 thousand pounds. Henry handed over Joan to the French church. The Maid of Orleans was tried in Normandy by 126 Sorbonne judges, then she was executed. The British did not take any part in all this at all, Caratini believes.
The historian also claims that the legend of Joan of Arc was created only at the end of the 19th century, because the French rulers of that time needed new heroes, and the young maiden, who fell victim to dynastic squabbles, was ideal for this role.
Married lady and mother
Rumors that Joan of Arc did not actually die, but was saved, began to spread among the people immediately after her execution. According to one version, which, in particular, is presented in Efim Chernyak’s book “The Judicial Loop,” Joan of 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 claim that their respected ancestor would not have married a woman for all the treasures of the world who would not have presented him with genuine documents certifying her true identity. 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 Lye often sent letters to his sister and went to see her in the city of Arlon. Records of relevant expenses are preserved in the account book of Orleans.
It is known that this mysterious lady lived in Arlon, where she led a busy social life. In 1439, the miraculously resurrected Jeanne appeared in Orleans, which she had once liberated. Judging by the entries in the same account book, the residents of Orleans greeted Jeanne d'Armoise more than warmly. Not only were they recognized, but noble townspeople held a gala dinner in her honor; in addition, Jeanne was presented with a gift of 210 livres “for the good service she rendered to the specified city during the siege.” There is indirect evidence that the mother of the real Joan of Arc, Isabella Romeu, could have been in Orleans at this time.
The resurrected Jeanne was also warmly welcomed in Tours, the village of Grande-aux-Ormes and several other settlements. In 1440, on the way to Paris, Madame d'Armoise was arrested, declared an impostor and pilloried. She repented of taking the name of the Maid of Orleans and was released.
They say that after the death of her husband Robert d'Armoise, this Jeanne married again. And at the end of the 50s, the lady was granted an official pardon for daring to impersonate Joan of Arc.
King's daughter
Another sensational statement was made by Ukrainian anthropologist Sergei Gorbenko: Joan of Arc did not die at the stake, but lived to be 57 years old. He also claims that Jeanne was not a simple village girl, as is said folk legend, and came from the royal Valois dynasty.
The scientist believes that the historical name of the famous Maid of Orleans is Marguerite de Champdiver. Sergei Gorbenko examined the remains in the sarcophagus of the Notre-Dame de Clery Saint-André church near Orleans and discovered that the female skull, which was kept along 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 were the remains of the same Joan of Arc, who in fact was the illegitimate princess of the house of Valois. Her father was King Charles VI, and her mother was the king's last mistress, Odette de Champdivers.
The girl was raised under the supervision of her father-king as a warrior, so she could wear Knight armour. This also explains how Jeanne could write letters (something an illiterate peasant girl would not have been able to do).
According to this version, the death of Joan of Arc was simulated by Charles VII: instead of her, a completely different woman was sent to the stake.
King's sister
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 to her, and even believe that she would be the one who would save France.
In addition, it always seemed strange to many researchers that a girl from a village family was too well versed in the political situation in the country, from childhood she owned a battle spear, which was the privilege of only nobles, she spoke clear French without a provincial accent and allowed herself to communicate with crowned heads with all respect.
There is a version according to which Joan of Arc was called the Maid of Orleans not only because of her liberation of Orleans, but also because of her involvement in the royal House of Orleans. It is possible that this version has some basis. In 1407, Queen Isabella did give birth to an illegitimate child, whose father was apparently the Duke of Louis d'Orléans. The baby is believed to have died soon after, but the grave and remains of this child, whose gender was not specified in historical documents of the time, could not be located. 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 Joan of Arc really was when she went to the stake is still controversial. During one of the interrogations, she once indicated her age - “about 19 years old.” Another time she 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 have turned out to be the illegitimate child of Queen Isabella.
In "The Judicial Loop" it is mentioned that Jeanne was medically examined twice. And both times the inspection was carried out by very high-ranking persons: first by Queens Maria of Anjou and Iolanta of Aragon, then by the Duchess of Bedford, who was the aunt of Charles VII. “You only need to imagine the class differences in medieval society,” the author writes, “to understand: the honor that Jeanne was awarded could not be given to a simple shepherdess.”
The material was prepared based on information from open sources
. Dauphin Charles, the heir of Charles VI, only miraculously managed to escape to the south of the country.
To completely subjugate France, the British only had to unite occupied northern France with Guienne and Aquitaine, which they had long controlled in the south. The key point that prevented them from doing this was the city of Orleans, the operation to capture which began in 1428. The defenders defended bravely, but the outcome of the siege seemed a foregone conclusion.
Biography
Domremy - Chinon
The traditional date of birth of Joan is 1412, however, in the decree of Pope Pius X of January 6, 1904, adopted following the solemn meeting at which the matter of canonizing the Virgin was considered, the date was given as January 6, 1409/1408.
Joan of Arc was born in the village of Domremy on the border of Champagne and Lorraine into a family of impoverished nobles (according to another version - wealthy peasants) Jacques d'Arc and Isabella de Vouton, nicknamed Romé (Roman) because of her pilgrimage to Rome. Joan never called herself Joan of Arc, but only “Joan the Virgin,” specifying that in childhood she was called Jeannette.
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, as is believed, Margaret of Antioch, who sometimes appeared to her in visible form. After some time, they allegedly revealed to Jeanne that it was she who was destined to lift the siege of Orleans, elevate the Dauphin to the throne and expel the invaders from the kingdom. When Jeanne turned 16, she went to the captain of the city of Vaucouleurs, Robert de Baudricourt, and announced her mission. Having been ridiculed, Zhanna 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 of the “Battle of the Herring” under the walls of Orleans for the French, he agreed to give her people so that she could go to the king, and also provided him with men’s clothing - a chaperon , hook and highway, and until the end Zhanna preferred to dress this way, explaining that in men's clothing it would be easier for her to fight and, at the same time, not attract unhealthy attention to herself from the soldiers. At the same time, two of her faithful companions, the knights Jean de Metz and Bertrand de Poulangis, joined Jeanne’s detachment.
In 11 days, covering the distance through enemy Burgundian territory between Domremy and Chinon, at the end of February or beginning of March 1429, Jeanne arrived at this castle - the residence of the Dauphin Charles. The Dauphin took advantage of the fact that Jeanne wrote to him from Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois that she would definitely recognize him, and put her to the test by placing another person on the throne and standing in the crowd of courtiers. However, Jeanne passed the test, recognizing him. She announced to Charles that she had been sent by Heaven to liberate the country from English rule and asked for troops to lift the siege of Orleans. Then Karl and Zhanna stepped aside and talked for a long time in private, on what topic - this remained a secret. The courtiers noticed that Karl looked unusually happy after the conversation.
In Chinon, Joan amazed Charles VII and the young Duke of Alençon with her skill in horsemanship, her impeccable knowledge of the games common among the nobility: quinten (French. quintaine ), a game of rings, - which required perfect mastery of weapons. During the acquittal process, Alain Chartier, secretary of Kings Charles VI and Charles VII, said the following about the interrogations conducted during the previous trial: “It seemed that this girl was brought up not in the fields, but in schools, in close contact with the sciences.” "
Karl, however, hesitated. He first ordered matrons to confirm Joan's virginity, then sent her to Poitiers, where she was to be interrogated by theologians, and also sent messengers to her homeland. After nothing was found that could cast a shadow on the girl’s reputation, Charles decided to transfer command of the troops into her hands and appointed her commander-in-chief. Leading French military commanders Etienne de Vignoles, nicknamed La Hire (French for anger), Poton de Centrale and Count Dunois, who fought off English attacks in Orleans with his last strength, were to come under her command. The Prince of Alençon became her chief of staff. 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 right to the throne, which many, including Charles himself, doubted.
Zhanna - military leader
After her appointment, armor was made 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 Joan herself. According to legend, this sword belonged to Charlemagne.
The news that the army was led by a messenger of God caused an extraordinary morale surge in the army. The hopeless commanders and soldiers, tired of endless defeats, were inspired and regained their courage.
Trial and conviction
The trial began on February 21, 1431. Despite the fact that Jeanne was formally tried by the church on charges of heresy, she was kept in prison under the guard of the British as a prisoner of war. The process was led by Bishop Pierre Cauchon, an ardent supporter of English interests in France.
The English government did not at all hide its involvement in the trial of Joan of Arc, nor the importance it attached to this trial. It covered all associated costs. Surviving and published documents from the English treasury in Normandy show that these expenses were considerable.
After death
The conviction and execution of Joan of Arc did not help the British - they were never able to recover from the blow she dealt.
In September of the same year, the most important event took place - the final reconciliation of France and Burgundy, who concluded the Treaty of Arras against the British. The very next year Richemont entered Paris with an army. The decisive French offensive was delayed for several years by intrigue and rebellion at the royal court.
In 1449, the French launched an offensive in Normandy, which ended in victory on 15 April 1450 at the Battle of Formigny. Normandy was captured by the French.
Acquittal process
After the end of the Normandy War in 1452, Charles VII ordered the collection of all documents relating to the trial of Joan and an investigation into its legality. The investigation studied the documents of the trial, interviewed the surviving witnesses and unanimously came to the conclusion that during the trial of Zhanna, gross violations of the law were committed. In 1455, Pope Calixtus III ordered a new trial and appointed three of his representatives to oversee it.
On July 7, 1456, the judges read a verdict, which stated that every point of accusation against Joan was refuted by the testimony of witnesses. The first trial was declared invalid, one copy of the protocols and indictment was symbolically torn in front of the crowd gathered. Jeanne's good name was restored.
The image of Joan of Arc in culture
Memory of Joan of Arc
- Every year on May 8th France celebrates “Joan of Arc Day”.
- The asteroid (127) Jeanne, discovered in 1872, is named in honor of Joan of Arc.
- The French cruiser-helicopter carrier Joan of Arc is named after the national heroine. Launched in 1964.
- In 1974, on the initiative of Andre Malraux, the Joan of Arc Center was founded in Orleans, which collects documents relating to her life and work.
Jehanne signature.jpg
Jeanne's signature
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Notes
Excerpt characterizing Joan of Arc
“Listen, do you remember our argument in St. Petersburg,” said Pierre, remember about...“I remember,” Prince Andrei hastily answered, “I said that fallen woman I need to forgive, but I didn’t say that I could forgive. I can't.
“Is it possible to compare this?...” said Pierre. Prince Andrei interrupted him. He shouted sharply:
- Yes, asking for her hand again, being generous, and the like?... Yes, this is very noble, but I am not able to go sur les brisees de monsieur [follow in the footsteps of this gentleman]. “If you want to be my friend, don’t ever talk to me about this... about all this.” Well, goodbye. So you will convey...
Pierre left and went to the old prince and princess Marya.
The old man seemed more animated than usual. Princess Marya was the same as always, but because of her sympathy for her brother, Pierre saw in her joy that her brother’s wedding was upset. Looking at them, Pierre realized what contempt and malice they all had against the Rostovs, he realized that it was impossible in their presence to even mention the name of the one who could exchange Prince Andrei for anyone.
At dinner the conversation turned to war, the approach of which was already becoming obvious. Prince Andrei talked and argued incessantly, first with his father, then with Desalles, the Swiss teacher, and seemed more animated than usual, with that animation whose moral reason Pierre knew so well.
That same evening, Pierre went to the Rostovs to fulfill his assignment. Natasha was in bed, the count was at the club, and Pierre, having handed over the letters to Sonya, went to Marya Dmitrievna, who was interested in finding out how Prince Andrei received the news. Ten minutes later Sonya entered Marya Dmitrievna’s room.
“Natasha definitely wants to see Count Pyotr Kirillovich,” she said.
- Well, how about taking him to her? “Your place is not tidy,” said Marya Dmitrievna.
“No, she got dressed and went into the living room,” said Sonya.
Marya Dmitrievna just shrugged.
- When the countess arrives, she completely tormented me. Just be careful, don’t tell her everything,” she turned to Pierre. “And I don’t have the heart to scold her, she’s so pathetic, so pathetic!”
Natasha, emaciated, with a pale and stern face (not at all ashamed as Pierre expected her to be) stood in the middle of the living room. When Pierre appeared at the door, she hurried, apparently undecided whether to approach him or wait for him.
Pierre hurriedly approached her. He thought that she would give him her hand, as always; but she, coming close to him, stopped, breathing heavily and lifelessly lowering her hands, in exactly the same position in which she went out into the middle of the hall to sing, but with a completely different expression.
“Pyotr Kirilych,” she began to speak quickly, “Prince Bolkonsky was your friend, he is your friend,” she corrected herself (it seemed to her that everything had just happened, and that now everything is different). - He told me then to contact you...
Pierre silently sniffled, looking at her. He still reproached her in his soul and tried to despise her; but now he felt so sorry for her that there was no room for reproach in his soul.
“He’s here now, tell him... so that he can just... forgive me.” “She stopped and began to breathe even more often, but did not cry.
“Yes... I’ll tell him,” Pierre said, but... – He didn’t know what to say.
Natasha was apparently frightened by the thought that might occur to Pierre.
“No, I know it’s over,” she said hastily. - No, this can never happen. I am tormented only by the evil that I did to him. Just tell him that I ask him to forgive, forgive, forgive me for everything...” She shook all over and sat down on a chair.
A never-before-experienced feeling of pity filled Pierre's soul.
“I’ll tell him, I’ll tell him again,” said Pierre; – but... I would like to know one thing...
"What to know?" asked Natasha's gaze.
“I would like to know if you loved...” Pierre did not know what to call Anatole and blushed at the thought of him, “did you love this bad man?”
“Don’t call him bad,” said Natasha. “But I don’t know anything...” She started crying again.
And an even greater feeling of pity, tenderness and love overwhelmed Pierre. He heard tears flowing under his glasses and hoped that they would not be noticed.
“Let’s say no more, my friend,” said Pierre.
His meek, gentle, sincere voice suddenly seemed so strange to Natasha.
- Let’s not talk, my friend, I’ll tell him everything; but I ask you one thing - consider me your friend, and if you need help, advice, you just need to pour out your soul to someone - not now, but when you feel clear in your soul - remember me. “He took and kissed her hand. “I’ll be happy if I’m able to...” Pierre became embarrassed.
– Don’t talk to me like that: I’m not worth it! – Natasha screamed and wanted to leave the room, but Pierre held her hand. He knew he needed to tell her something else. But when he said this, he was surprised at his own words.
“Stop it, stop it, your whole life is ahead of you,” he told her.
- For me? No! “Everything is lost for me,” she said with shame and self-humiliation.
- Everything is lost? - he repeated. “If I were not me, but the most beautiful, smartest and best person in the world, and were free, I would be on my knees right now asking for your hand and love.”
For the first time after many days, Natasha cried with tears of gratitude and tenderness and, looking at Pierre, left the room.
Pierre, too, almost ran out into the hall after her, holding back the tears of tenderness and happiness that were choking his throat, without getting into his sleeves, he put on his fur coat and sat down in the sleigh.
- Now where do you want to go? - asked the coachman.
"Where? Pierre asked himself. Where can you go now? Is it really to the club or guests? All people seemed so pitiful, so poor in comparison with the feeling of tenderness and love that he experienced; in comparison with the softened, grateful look with which she looked at him the last time because of her tears.
“Home,” said Pierre, despite the ten degrees of frost, opening his bear coat on his wide, joyfully breathing chest.
It was frosty and clear. Above the dirty, dim streets, above the black roofs, there was a dark, starry sky. Pierre, just looking at the sky, did not feel the offensive baseness of everything earthly in comparison with the height at which his soul was located. Upon entering Arbat Square, a huge expanse of starry dark sky opened up to Pierre’s eyes. Almost in the middle of this sky above Prechistensky Boulevard, surrounded and sprinkled on all sides with stars, but differing from everyone else in its proximity to the earth, white light, and long, raised tail, stood a huge bright comet of 1812, the same comet that foreshadowed as they said, all sorts of horrors and the end of the world. But in Pierre this bright star with a long radiant tail did not arouse any terrible feeling. Opposite Pierre, joyfully, eyes wet with tears, looked at this bright star, which, as if, with inexpressible speed, flying immeasurable spaces along a parabolic line, suddenly, like an arrow pierced into the ground, stuck here in one place chosen by it, in the black sky, and stopped, energetically raising her tail up, glowing and playing with her white light between countless other twinkling stars. It seemed to Pierre that this star fully corresponded to what was in his soul, which had blossomed towards a new life, softened and encouraged.
From the end of 1811, increased armament and concentration of forces began Western Europe, and in 1812 these forces - millions of people (counting those who transported and fed the army) moved from West to East, to the borders of Russia, to which, in the same way, since 1811, Russian forces were drawn together. On June 12, the forces of Western Europe crossed the borders of Russia, and war began, that is, an event contrary to human reason and all human nature took place. Millions of people committed each other, against each other, such countless atrocities, deceptions, betrayals, thefts, forgeries and the issuance of false banknotes, robberies, arson and murders, which for centuries will not be collected by the chronicle of all the courts of the world and for which, during this period of time, people those who committed them did not look at them as crimes.
What caused this extraordinary event? What were the reasons for it? Historians say with naive confidence that the reasons for this event were the insult inflicted on the Duke of Oldenburg, non-compliance with the continental system, Napoleon's lust for power, Alexander's firmness, diplomatic mistakes, etc.
Consequently, it was only necessary for Metternich, Rumyantsev or Talleyrand, between the exit and the reception, to try hard and write a more skillful piece of paper, or for Napoleon to write to Alexander: Monsieur mon frere, je consens a rendre le duche au duc d "Oldenbourg, [My lord brother, I agree return the duchy to the Duke of Oldenburg.] - and there would be no war.
It is clear that this was how the matter seemed to contemporaries. It is clear that Napoleon thought that the cause of the war was the intrigues of England (as he said on the island of St. Helena); It is clear that it seemed to the members of the English House that the cause of the war was Napoleon’s lust for power; that it seemed to the Prince of Oldenburg that the cause of the war was the violence committed against him; that it seemed to the merchants that the cause of the war was the continental system that was ruining Europe, that it seemed to the old soldiers and generals that the main reason was the need to use them in business; legitimists of that time that it was necessary to restore les bons principes [ good principles], and to the diplomats of that time that everything happened because the alliance of Russia with Austria in 1809 was not skillfully hidden from Napoleon and that memorandum No. 178 was awkwardly written. It is clear that these and countless, infinite number of reasons, the number of which depends on the countless differences in points of view, it seemed to contemporaries; but for us, our descendants, who contemplate the enormity of the event in its entirety and delve into its simple and terrible meaning, these reasons seem insufficient. It is incomprehensible to us that millions of Christian people killed and tortured each other, because Napoleon was power-hungry, Alexander was firm, the politics of England was cunning and the Duke of Oldenburg was offended. It is impossible to understand what connection these circumstances have with the very fact of murder and violence; why, due to the fact that the duke was offended, thousands of people from the other side of Europe killed and ruined the people of the Smolensk and Moscow provinces and were killed by them.
For us, descendants - not historians, not carried away by the process of research and therefore contemplating the event with unobscured common sense, its causes appear in innumerable quantities. The more we delve into the search for reasons, the more of them are revealed to us, and every single reason or a whole series of reasons seems to us equally fair in itself, and equally false in its insignificance in comparison with the enormity of the event, and equally false in its invalidity ( without the participation of all other coincident causes) to produce the accomplished event. The same reason as Napoleon’s refusal to withdraw his troops beyond the Vistula and give back the Duchy of Oldenburg seems to us to be the desire or reluctance of the first French corporal to enter secondary service: for, if he did not want to go to service, and the other and the third would not want , and the thousandth corporal and soldier, there would have been so many fewer people in Napoleon’s army, and there could have been no war.
If Napoleon had not been offended by the demand to retreat beyond the Vistula and had not ordered the troops to advance, there would have been no war; but if all the sergeants had not wished to enter secondary service, there could not have been a war. There also could not have been a war if there had not been the intrigues of England, and there had not been the Prince of Oldenburg and the feeling of insult in Alexander, and there would have been no autocratic power in Russia, and there would have been no French Revolution and the subsequent dictatorship and empire, and all that , which produced the French Revolution, and so on. Without one of these reasons nothing could happen. Therefore, all these reasons - billions of reasons - coincided in order to produce what was. And, therefore, nothing was the exclusive cause of the event, and the event had to happen only because it had to happen. Millions of people, having renounced their human feelings and their reason, had to go to the East from the West and kill their own kind, just as several centuries ago crowds of people went from East to West, killing their own kind.
The actions of Napoleon and Alexander, on whose word it seemed that an event would happen or not happen, were as little arbitrary as the action of each soldier who went on a campaign by lot or by recruitment. This could not be otherwise because in order for the will of Napoleon and Alexander (those people on whom the event seemed to depend) to be fulfilled, the coincidence of countless circumstances was necessary, without one of which the event could not have happened. It was necessary that millions of people, in whose hands there was real power, soldiers who fired, carried provisions and guns, it was necessary that they agreed to fulfill this will of individual and weak people and were brought to this by countless complex, varied reasons.
Fatalism in history is inevitable to explain irrational phenomena (that is, those whose rationality we do not understand). The more we try to rationally explain these phenomena in history, the more unreasonable and incomprehensible they become for us.
Each person lives for himself, enjoys freedom to achieve his personal goals and feels with his whole being that he can now do or not do such and such an action; but as soon as he does it, this action, performed at a certain moment in time, becomes irreversible and becomes the property of history, in which it has not a free, but a predetermined meaning.
There are two sides of life in every person: personal life, which is the more free the more abstract its interests are, and spontaneous, swarm life, where a person inevitably fulfills the laws prescribed to him.
Man consciously lives for himself, but serves as an unconscious tool for achieving historical, universal goals. A committed act is irrevocable, and its action, coinciding in time with millions of actions of other people, acquires historical significance. The higher a person stands on the social ladder, the more important people he is connected with, the more power he has over other people, the more obvious the predetermination and inevitability of his every action.
“The heart of a king is in the hand of God.”
The king is a slave of history.
History, that is, the unconscious, general, swarm life of humanity, uses every minute of the life of the kings as an instrument for its own purposes.
Napoleon, despite the fact that more than ever, now, in 1812, it seemed to him that the verser or not verser le sang de ses peuples [to shed or not to shed the blood of his people] depended on him (as he wrote to him in his last letter Alexander), never more than now was he subject to those inevitable laws that forced him (acting in relation to himself, as it seemed to him, at his own discretion) to do for the common cause, for history, what had to happen.
Westerners moved to the East to kill each other. And according to the law of coincidence of causes, thousands of small reasons for this movement and for the war coincided with this event: reproaches for non-compliance with the continental system, and the Duke of Oldenburg, and the movement of troops to Prussia, undertaken (as it seemed to Napoleon) only to to achieve armed peace, and the love and habit of the French emperor for war, which coincided with the disposition of his people, the fascination with the grandeur of the preparations, and the expenses of preparation, and the need to acquire such benefits that would repay these expenses, and the stupefying honors in Dresden, and diplomatic negotiations, which, in the opinion of contemporaries, were carried out with a sincere desire to achieve peace and which only hurt the pride of both sides, and millions of millions of other reasons that were counterfeited by the event that was about to take place and coincided with it.
When an apple is ripe and falls, why does it fall? Is it because it gravitates towards the ground, is it because the rod is drying up, is it because it is being dried out by the sun, is it getting heavy, is it because the wind is shaking it, is it because the boy standing below wants to eat it?
Nothing is a reason. All this is just a coincidence of the conditions under which every vital, organic, spontaneous event takes place. And that botanist who finds that the apple falls because the fiber is decomposing and the like will be just as right and wrong as that child standing below who will say that the apple fell because he wanted to eat him and that he prayed about it. Just as right and wrong will be the one who says that Napoleon went to Moscow because he wanted it, and died because Alexander wanted his death: just as right and wrong will be the one who says that the one that fell into a million pounds the dug mountain fell because the last worker struck under it for the last time with a pickaxe. IN historical events so-called great people are labels that give names to an event, which, like labels, have the least connection with the event itself.
Each of their actions, which seems to them arbitrary for themselves, is in the historical sense involuntary, but is in connection with the entire course of history and is determined from eternity.
On May 29, Napoleon left Dresden, where he stayed for three weeks, surrounded by a court composed of princes, dukes, kings and even one emperor. Before leaving, Napoleon treated the princes, kings and emperor who deserved it, scolded the kings and princes with whom he was not entirely pleased, presented the Empress of Austria with his own, that is, pearls and diamonds taken from other kings, and, tenderly hugging Empress Maria Louise, as his historian says, he left her saddened by the separation, which she - this Marie Louise, who was considered his wife, despite the fact that another wife remained in Paris - seemed unable to bear. Despite the fact that diplomats still firmly believed in the possibility of peace and worked diligently for this purpose, despite the fact that Emperor Napoleon himself wrote a letter to Emperor Alexander, calling him Monsieur mon frere [Sovereign my brother] and sincerely assuring that he did not want war and that he would always be loved and respected - he went to the army and gave new orders at each station, with the goal of hastening the movement of the army from west to east. He rode in a road carriage drawn by six, surrounded by pages, adjutants and an escort, along the highway to Posen, Thorn, Danzig and Konigsberg. In each of these cities, thousands of people greeted him with awe and delight.
The army moved from west to east, and the variable gears carried him there. On June 10, he caught up with the army and spent the night in the Vilkovysy forest, in an apartment prepared for him, on the estate of a Polish count.
The next day, Napoleon, having overtaken the army, drove up to the Neman in a carriage and, in order to inspect the area of the crossing, changed into a Polish uniform and went ashore.
Seeing on the other side the Cossacks (les Cosaques) and the spreading steppes (les Steppes), in the middle of which was Moscou la ville sainte, [Moscow, holy city,] the capital of that similar Scythian state where Alexander the Great went, Napoleon, unexpectedly for everyone and contrary to both strategic and diplomatic considerations, ordered an offensive, and the next day his troops began to cross the Neman.
On the 12th, early in the morning, he left the tent, pitched that day on the steep left bank of the Neman, and looked through the telescope at the streams of his troops emerging from the Vilkovyssky forest, spilling over three bridges built on the Neman. The troops knew about the presence of the emperor, looked for him with their eyes, and when they found a figure in a frock coat and hat separated from his retinue on the mountain in front of the tent, they threw their caps up and shouted: “Vive l" Empereur! [Long live the emperor!] - and alone others, without being exhausted, flowed out, everything flowed out of the huge forest that had hidden them hitherto and, upset, crossed three bridges to the other side.
– On fera du chemin cette fois ci. Oh! quand il s"en mele lui meme ca chauffe... Nom de Dieu... Le voila!.. Vive l"Empereur! Les voila donc les Steppes de l"Asie! Vilain pays tout de meme. Au revoir, Beauche; je te reserve le plus beau palais de Moscow. Au revoir! Bonne chance... L"as tu vu, l"Empereur? Vive l" Empereur!.. preur! Si on me fait gouverneur aux Indes, Gerard, je te fais ministre du Cachemire, c"est arrete. Vive l"Empereur! Vive! vive! vive! Les gredins de Cosaques, comme ils filent. Vive l"Empereur! Le voila! Le vois tu? Je l"ai vu deux fois comme jete vois. Le petit caporal... Je l"ai vu donner la croix a l"un des vieux... Vive l"Empereur!.. [Now let's go! Oh! as soon as he takes charge, things will boil. By God... Here he is... Hurray, Emperor! So here they are, the Asian steppes... However, a bad country. Goodbye, Bose. I will leave you the best palace in Moscow. Goodbye, I wish you success. Have you seen the emperor? Hurray! If I am made governor in India, I will make you minister of Kashmir... Hurray! Emperor Here he is! Do you see him? I saw him twice like you. Little corporal... I saw how he hung a cross on one of the old men... Hurray, emperor!] - said the voices of old and young people, of the most diverse characters and positions in society. All the faces of these people had one common expression of joy at the beginning of the long-awaited campaign and delight and devotion to the man in a gray frock coat standing on the mountain.
On June 13, Napoleon was given a small purebred Arabian horse, and he sat down and galloped to one of the bridges over the Neman, constantly deafened by enthusiastic cries, which he obviously endured only because it was impossible to forbid them to express their love for him with these cries; but these screams, accompanying him everywhere, weighed on him and distracted him from the military worries that had gripped him since the time he joined the army. He drove across one of the bridges swinging on boats to the other side, turned sharply to the left and galloped towards Kovno, preceded by enthusiastic Guards horse rangers who were transfixed with happiness, clearing the way for the troops galloping ahead of him. Arriving at the wide Viliya River, he stopped next to a Polish Uhlan regiment stationed on the bank.
- Vivat! – the Poles also shouted enthusiastically, disrupting the front and pushing each other in order to see him. Napoleon examined the river, got off his horse and sat down on a log lying on the bank. At a wordless sign, a pipe was handed to him, he placed it on the back of a happy page who ran up and began to look at the other side. Then he went deep into examining a sheet of map laid out between the logs. Without raising his head, he said something, and two of his adjutants galloped towards the Polish lancers.
- What? What did he say? - was heard in the ranks of the Polish lancers when one adjutant galloped up to them.
It was ordered to find a ford and cross to the other side. The Polish Lancer colonel, a handsome old man, flushed and confused in his words with excitement, asked the adjutant if he would be allowed to swim across the river with his Lancers without looking for a ford. He, with obvious fear of refusal, like a boy who asks permission to mount a horse, asked to be allowed to swim across the river in the eyes of the emperor. The adjutant said that the emperor would probably not be dissatisfied with this excessive zeal.
As soon as the adjutant said this, an old mustachioed officer with a happy face and sparkling eyes, raising his saber, shouted: “Vivat! - and, commanding the lancers to follow him, he gave spurs to his horse and galloped up to the river. He angrily pushed the horse that had hesitated beneath him and fell into the water, heading deeper into the rapids of the current. Hundreds of lancers galloped after him. It was cold and terrible in the middle and at the rapids of the current. The lancers clung to each other, fell off their horses, some horses drowned, people drowned too, the rest tried to swim, some on the saddle, some holding the mane. They tried to swim forward to the other side and, despite the fact that there was a crossing half a mile away, they were proud that they were swimming and drowning in this river under the gaze of a man sitting on a log and not even looking at what they were doing. When the returning adjutant, having chosen a convenient moment, allowed himself to draw the emperor’s attention to the devotion of the Poles to his person, a small man in a gray frock coat stood up and, calling Berthier to him, began to walk with him back and forth along the shore, giving him orders and occasionally looking displeasedly at the drowning lancers who entertained his attention.
It was not new for him to believe that his presence at all ends of the world, from Africa to the steppes of Muscovy, equally amazes and plunges people into the madness of self-forgetfulness. He ordered a horse to be brought to him and rode to his camp.
About forty lancers drowned in the river, despite the boats sent to help. Most washed back to this shore. The colonel and several people swam across the river and with difficulty climbed out to the other bank. But as soon as they got out with their wet dress flopping around them and dripping in streams, they shouted: “Vivat!”, looking enthusiastically at the place where Napoleon stood, but where he was no longer there, and at that moment they considered themselves happy.
In the evening, Napoleon, between two orders - one about delivering the prepared counterfeit Russian banknotes for import into Russia as soon as possible, and the other about shooting the Saxon, in whose intercepted letter information about orders for the French army was found - made a third order - about the inclusion of the Polish colonel, who unnecessarily threw himself into the river, into the cohort of honor (Legion d'honneur), of which Napoleon was the head.
Young French girl Joan of Arc managed to turn the tide of the 100-year war, and led French troops to victory under her banner. She managed to do what many experienced French commanders considered impossible - defeat the British.
Brief biography of Joan of Arc
The official date of birth of Joan of Arc is considered January 6, 1412(there are 2 more dates - January 6, 1408 and 1409). She was born in the French village of Domremy into a family of wealthy peasants.
Voice of Archangel Michael
When was Joan of Arc born? 13 years, she, according to her, heard the voice of Archangel Michael, who told her about the great mission: Joan was supposed to break the siege of Orleans by the British and win the battle.
Persistent girl
The visions were repeated, and at 16 years old the girl went to one of the captains of the French army - Robert de Baudricourt. She spoke about her visions and asked to give her people under command and escort them to the court of the Dauphin (the heir of Charles VI).
Joan of Arc's persistence prevailed over the captain's ridicule, and he gave her people to accompany her to the king, and also provided her with men's clothing, so as not to “embarrass the soldiers.”
Meeting with the King
March 14, 1429 Jeanne arrived at the residence of the Dauphin Charles - the castle Chinon. She told him that she had been sent by Heaven to liberate the country from English rule and asked for troops to lift the siege of Orleans.
In France there was a belief that a young virgin, sent by God, would help the army win the war
The girl amazed the courtiers and the king himself with her skill horse riding and art weapon ownership. There was an impression that she was raised not in a peasant family, but “in special schools.”
Zhanna - commander-in-chief
After the matrons confirmed Jeanne's virginity and numerous other checks were carried out, Charles made a decision make her commander in chief with his troops and lead them to Orleans.
After this, armor was made for the girl and delivered at her request. Charlemagne's sword, which was kept in the church of Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois. Then she headed to the city of Blois, designated as a meeting point for the army, and at the head of the army set out for Orleans.
"Maid of Orleans"
The news that the army was led by the messenger of God caused an extraordinary moral upsurge in the army. The commanders and soldiers who had lost hope, tired of endless defeats, were inspired and regained their courage.
April 29, 1429 Joan of Arc with a small detachment enters Orleans. On May 4, her army won its first victory, taking the bastion Saint-Loup. Victories followed one after another, and already on the morning of May 8, the British were forced to lift the siege of the city.
Thus, Joan of Arc solved the task that other French military leaders considered impossible in four days. After the victory at Orleans, Jeanne was nicknamed the "Maid of Orleans". The day of May 8th is celebrated every year in Orleans to this day as main holiday cities.
With the help of Jeanne, they managed to capture several more important fortresses. The French army recaptured one city after another.
Betrayal and burning
in spring 1430 After a year's absence of military action due to the indecisiveness of Charles VII and palace intrigues, Joan of Arc again led the troops, her banner in front. She rushed to the aid of the besieged city Compiegne, but fell into a trap - a bridge was raised in the city, and she could no longer escape from it.
The Burgundians sold it to the English for 10,000 gold livres. In February 1431, a trial took place over her in Rouen, which sentenced her to be burned as a heretic. The verdict came into force 30 May 1431– Joan of Arc was burned alive in the Old Market Square.
Rehabilitation and canonization
At the end of the Hundred Years' War, Charles VII ordered an investigation into the legality of the trial of the young heroine. It was established that the English court had many gross violations.
Joan of Arc was rehabilitated summer of 1456, and after 548 years - in 1920 she was canonized (canonized) in the Catholic Church.