This book review was written by Eugene Kernes
“The Hundred Years’ War means, in brief, that for a hundred years the Kings of England attempted to unite France and England under one crown – their own. They tried hereditary justification, and they tried force of arms. Neither attempt, in the long run, was successful. A certain amount of blood was shed, and a considerable amount of suffering entailed, all to no purpose. The Hundred Years’ War was one of the most foolish and ill-advised wars ever undertaken.” – Vita Sackville-West, Chapter II: The Hundred Years’ War, Pages 16-17
“The spirits who habitually appeared to her were three in
number – the Archangel Michael, Saint Margaret, and Saint Catherine. She claimed also to have seen the Archangel
Gabriel and several hundred of other angels, but it was with her three
familiars that she was chiefly concerned.
She saw them with her bodily eyes, and wept when they left her, wishing
that they could have carried her away with them. They came always accompanied by the cloud of
heavenly light.” – Vita Sackville-West, Chapter IV: Domremy (2), Page 59
“Jeanne stood not the slightest chance from the first. Those who ask whether she was given a fair
trial may find their answer. She was
given a trial conducted with all the impressive apparatus of ceremony,
learning, and scholasticism that the Holy Catholic Church, the court of the
Inquisition and the University of Paris between them could command, but in
essence the whole trial was a preordained and tragic farce. The most remarkable thing about it, to my
mind, is that they troubled to give her a trial at all, let alone a trial in
which one cardinal, six bishops, thirty-two doctors of theology, sixteen
bachelors of theology, seven doctors of medicine, and one hundred and three
other associates were involved, and that the Burgundians had not sewn her into
a sack and thrown her into the Oise at Compiègne forthwith. It is an astonishing tribute to her
achievement, to the awe she inspired, and to the position she had attained in
the public mind, that it never occurred to them to apply such off-hand methods
as were in current use for proletarian upstarts coming forward with the claim
of unusual powers.” – Vita Sackville-West, Chapter XV: The Trial (1), Pages 288-289
Is This An Overview?
Joan of Arc, or rather more appropriately, Jeanne d’Arc, was
a source of inspiration for France during The Hurdred
Years’ War. A war in which the
sovereignty of France was being fought over by the French and the English. Jeanne d’Arc was a peasant from a devoutly
Catholic family, who claimed to be visited by spirits, by Angels. Jeanne d’Arc had become the chosen of the
King of Heaven. Meant to liberate
Orleans and crown the king of France.
Jeanne d’Arc was the Pucelle, the maid, the virgin. A feature that meant the Devil could not have
corrupted Jeanne d’Arc, that the voices heard were not from the Devil.
Jeanne d’Arc had unquestionable conviction, which was able
to convince others to join the cause. Jeanne
d’Arc made an audacious request to be introduced to the Dauphin, the heir to
the throne of France. An absurd request
for a peasant to make, but eventually obtained the introduction. Jeanne d’Arc claims were tested, and seeming
miracles were performed. One test
included the Dauphin pretending to not be the Dauphin, but Jeanne d’Arc was
still able to identify who the Dauphin was.
Knew of the Dauphin’s secret.
Jeanne d’Arc became recognized by the Dauphin, and became an official
savior.
Jeanne d’Arc was not a military commander, Jeanne d’Arc did
not have military experience. Jeanne
d’Arc’s achievement was not in military prowess. Jeanne d’Arc’s achievement was
psychological. Jeanne d’Arc encouraged
and inspired the military forces. The
inspirational efforts enabled the military to end the siege of Orleans. During the siege, Jeanne d’Arc was brave, and
wounded in a manner that Jeanne d’Arc prophesied.
After the siege of Orleans lifted, the Dauphin was crowned,
as King Charles VIII. Further advances
were limited. After a failed attempt to
take Paris, Jeanne d’Arc was captured.
Charles VIII owed everything to Jeanne d’Arc, but did not attempt a
rescue. Jeanne d’Arc was put on trial
for heresy, blasphemy, idolatry, and sorcery.
The trial garnered the attention of various powerful institutions, but
the outcome of the trial was preordained.
The trial was based on religious authority, not political. But the people in charge of the trial,
supported the English cause. Jeanne
d’Arc was convicted, and burned to death as a heretic. Centuries later, canonized as a saint.
What were the characteristics of Jeanne d’Arc?
To be part of the army, Jeanne d’Arc dressed in masculine
clothes, and favored masculine clothes. Jeanne
d’Arc had feminine traits such as a womanly voice and was ready to tears.
Jeanne d’Arc reputation was spreading, even before Jeanne
d’Arc did anything worthy.
Religious observance was more important than military
strategy. During a Sunday, Jeanne d’Arc
enabled enemy to escape.
During the trial, the questions asked were meant to expose
Jeanne d’Arc for sacrilege. Questions
meant to trap Jeanne d’Arc into professing guilt. Jeanne d’Arc was able to evade traps with
sagacity. But, provided many other
responses which condemned Jeanne d’Arc.
Caveats?
The book can be difficult to read. What Jeanne d’Arc did might be known, but not
how. What is not known is how Jeanne
d’Arc survived certain events, or known certain information. Jeanne d’Arc was able to convince others, but
what is not known is how Jeanne d’Arc convinced others or why they were
convinced.
