In 1340 the French were defeated in a naval battle off Sluys securing the English Channel for the English. Following campaigns were fought on French soil, but with defeats at Crecy in 1346 and Poitiers in 1356. Civil war was even raging in France. The French king Charles VI, had gone mad. His brother, the duke of Orleans, was named regent, thereby arousing the envy of John the Fearless, duke of Burgundy. Burgundy was probably the most powerful of all the king's relatives.(Allmand 36) John arranged the assassination of Orleans in 1407 only to see another rival, Count Bertrand VII of Armagnac, put in his place. In the conflict that follow

When Joan finally made the journey to him in June, 1428 she found that Baudicourt was a "rude and dissolute" soldier who treated her and her mission with much disrespect, telling her cousin who accompanied her, "Take her home to her father and give her a good whipping.(www.joan-of-arc.org)"

God had blessed Joan by telling her "what her purpose was to be in life.(Paine 23)" He had chosen her, a peasant girl to lead the French troops into the Siege of Orleans. It was rare for a girl ( for girls in the 14th & 15th centuries never were involved in military efforts), let alone a peasant girl to even try such a thing. However with her strong faith she knew she must do it. Many of the peasant class already supported her for they knew her faithful nature. In little time she would have the support of many others.

Meanwhile the military situation of Dauphin Charles and his supporters was growing more desperate. On October 12, 1428 Orleans was captured and by the end of the year complete defeat seemed inescapable. Little feeling of hope was left in the French faction. Joan's voicing started to become so urgent that at times they were even threatening. It was in vain that she resisted, saying to them, "I am a poor girl; I do not know how to ride or fight." The voices came back by saying, "It is God who commands it."(Paine 20) Finally giving in, Joan left Domremy in January 1429, and again visited Vaucouleurs.

Now Joan's principal goal was attained. It would seem like there was nothing else for her to do, but Joan went on to a mission to Paris at the end of August. The mission failed. The next time she would fight in a battle would be her last, for when she threw herself into Compiegne on May 24 to defend the town from a Burgundian attack. A Burgundian soldier seized her robe and dragged her from her horse.(www.joan-of-arc.org) She was taken prisoner. No one came forward to ransom or rescue her. The French king and his court watched and did nothing as the Burgundians sold her to the English. (The price was high - ten thousand livres.) The English announced that Joan would go on trial for being a witch and a heretic.

In 1420, when Joan was eight years old, the French king was virtually isolated forcing him to sign the Treaty of Troyes which gave Henry V eventual title to the kingdom of France and the hand of the daughter of King Charles "the Mad", Catherine. In the treaty it also stated that no consideration would be given to Charles the "so-called" Dauphin, son of Charles VI, the then reigning king; no treaty of peace was to be concluded with him, without the consent of "us three"- the kings of France and England, and the Duke of Burgundy.(Sackville-West 53) France was now torn between Henry V and the Duke of Burgundy. Pierre Cauchon was one of the men who helped to negotiate the treaty and his efforts were surely recognized when the Duke of Burgundy gave him the episcopal position on which he would later prosecute Joan on the side of the English.

Banfield,Susan. Joan of Arc (World Leaders, Past and Present). Chelsea House Publishers, 1988.

Paine, Albert Bigelow. The Girl in White Armor: The story of Joan of Arc. New York: The Macmillan company, 1927.

Around this time at about the ages of twelve or thirteen Joan began to hear her "voices". The first happening of these voices occurred on a summer's day, while in her father's garden she saw toward the church a great light and heard a voice, as she recalls a "a worthy Voice," full of dignity. (Paine 6) Again several times after this instance the voice came to her. It wasn't until after a few times of the "voices" visiting her that she could recognize who they were. One being the great Saint Michael and the others along with him being Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret. The voices told her to be a good child and to go to church regularly. They also said that she would rescue France and have the Dauphin Charles VII crowned as king at Reims. Th

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2978
Approximate Pages = 12 (250 words per page double spaced)