Understanding Joan of Arc
To understand how Joan of Arc was so different from other young women her age during the Middle Ages, it is important to know something about her background. Joan of Arc was born to a farm family in 1412 and christened Jehanne (Joan). War with England was renewed in 1415, when Jehanne was three. In 1422 Henry V and Charles VI died within two months of each other, leaving the infant Henry VI as the nominal ruler of both kingdoms. His regent in France, the Duke of Bedford, spent the next few years cementing alliances with the Dukes of Brittany and Burgundy, and engaging Armagnac forces in the field. The military situation swung in Bedford's favor with major victories at Cravant on July 31, 1423 and at Verneuil on August 17th of the following year, during which the Dauphin's Scottish allies were cut to pieces in a smaller-scale version of AginASourt. The Scots lost some of their enthusiasm for the war after that point. In the wake of defeat and frustration, demoralization set in within the Armagnac faction. Around that time, perhaps in the summer of 1424, the young farm girl from Domremy said she began to experience visions. She would later explain: "I was in my thirteenth year when I heard a voice from God to help me govern my cond
In 1428, Joan decided she needed to act upon her visions and went to stay with an uncle. It was here she came upon the French army and started to call herself "The Maiden", a name which set her apart from the soldiers by exclaiming that she was a virgin. This too set her apart at a young age because not many women spent as much time in the company of soldiers. During her campaigns and imprisonment, Joan of Arc wore clothing more commonly worn by men. Her motive was to maintain her chastity and not be looked at as a woman but rather a soldier of God. Finally when Joan was captured by the English, Joan wanted to remain in her male clothing as a protection from being raped by her guards. The first thing that set Joan apart was her visions and her dedication at the young age of 12 and 13 to prayer and her belief in God. Joan spent many hours praying in church. She has often been described at that young age as being pious and generous. But what really set Joan apart from other women in the Middle Ages was not just her claim to be a visionary but the fact that she eventually lead the French army to victory. It began when she was brought to a succession of towns where preparations were being made to bring supplies to the city of Orleans, which had been under siege by the English since the previous October. She was joined by her brothers Jean and Pierre, and equipped with armor and a white banner depicting God flanked by two a
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Approximate Word count = 966
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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