National Joan of Arc Day

Statue de Jeanne d'Arc. Chinon

Joan of Arc Day of is celebrated in France the second Sunday in May. Rightly so. Many of our heroes and heroines turn out to have feet of clay but not Joan who gains in stature the more we know about her. The fate of France was decided in the Touraine where Joan’s epic journey started. Chinon, Orléans and Loches played a crucial part in its history.

The sixteen year old girl who arrived in the Loire Valley a shepherdess to become a fearless soldier fighting for France is the stuff of legends. It took Joan just four months to turn its fortunes around. Small wonder she is a national symbol. The French call her Jeanne d’ Arc, the English, Joan of Arc, her real name was Jehanne. So much for ‘Joan’. But where is Arc? There isn’t one. It’s not a place, it’s a name. Her father’s name was Darc. He lived long enough to enjoy his daughter’s miraculous achievements and sadly, long enough to mourn her demise.

Joan kept her promise to drive the English out of The Loire Valley. She arrived at Gien on the Loire in March 1429. She met the disinherited Dauphin Charles at Chinon on 6th March to ask his permission to end the Siege of Orléans.

Forteresse Royale de Chinon

The English were taking Orléans but their real target was Bourges, where the Dauphin based his Court. Weak, lethargic, unworthy of Joan, Charles was indifferent about the English in France. Yolande, his formidable mother-in-law was anything but. Incensed that Henry VI of England, Charles’ nephew, wore the French crown, she bankrolled Joan. It was Yolande, not Charles, who took charge of the military preparations for Joan’s battle at Orléans.

Joan passed through Amboise on her way from Chinon to Tours. Louis d'Amboise and his cousin Pierre d'Amboise became her firm friends, her loyal Comrades-in Arms in all her forthcoming battles. Louis and Pierre had been fighting in Orléans since January. Pierre, in particular was keen to fight. His father died fighting for France in the Battle of Agincourt. Dauphin Charles hated Louis who was braver and richer. He was so jealous of him he took Château Amboise which had been in Louis’ family for four hundred years.

Château Royal d'Amboise

Joan went to Tours to be measured for a suit of armour. She left with her famous sword and her white Standard to join a convoy in Blois. She left Blois on 27 April and entered Orléans in the evening of 29 April.

Château Royal de Blois

The Siege of Orléans collapsed 8 May, nine days after her arrival dashing English hopes of conquest. If 1066 is engraved on the heart of every Englishman, surely 1429 is engraved on the heart of every Frenchman. Orléans has celebrated Joan’s victory on 8 May for six hundred years. Les fêtes johanniques is one of the oldest traditions in France. It simultaneously celebrates the lifting of the Siege with VE (Victory in Europe) when Germany’s hopes of conquest were dashed. Joan met the Dauphin at Château Loches to persuade him to go to Reims and be crowned. She left a few weeks later to recapture occupied towns along the Loire. Louis and Pierre d’Amboise were with her. Joan had so boosted morale, volunteers, eager to serve under her Banner swelled the French army.

Château de Loches

The English were finally defeated at the Battle of Patay on 18 June. Joan’s Loire Campaign marked the beginning of the end of the Hundred Years' War. This victory was to France what Agincourt was to England. The French now felt safe enough to agree to Joan's wish to see the Dauphin crowned at Reims. The March started at Gien, where Joan had arrived just four months ago, on 29 June. She met the Dauphin at Sully. He followed her to Reims where Charles, with Joan at his side, was consecrated Charles VII on 17 July. Also there was Yolande and Louis and Pierre d’Amboise. Charles ennobled Joan’s family on 29 December. The family changed its surname from Darc to du Lys.

Section of the Church of St. Joan of Arc, Rouen

Joan's luck ran out a year later. She was captured by Burgundians who sold her to the English. Charles made no attempt to help her. The rest, as we say, is history. Joan, found guilty of heresy (dressing as a man) was burnt at the stake in Rouen on 30 May 1431.

Post by Pamela Photography by Mark