This Day in History: 30 May 2020
30 May 1431
589 years ago, today, Joan of Arc, a peasant girl from medieval France, was executed. She believed that God had chosen her to lead France to victory in the Hundred Years' War against England. Despite her lack of military training, she was able to convince Prince Charles of Valois to allow her to lead a French army to Orléans, a besieged city, ultimately achieving momentous victory. She would become to be known as the Maid of Orléans, and is considered today as one of history's greatest saints, and serves as an everlasting symbol of French nationalism and unity.
After Joan witnessed the coronation of King Charles VII, she was captured by Anglo-Burgundian forces, and tried for witchcraft, heresy, and violating divine law for cross-dressing. A series of missteps had followed her victories against the English, including her failure to liberate Paris. She received a death sentence, but this was reduced to life in prison after she promised that she would dress like a woman. However, she contradicted this and continued to dress in men's clothing. Subsequently, she was tied to a pillar and burned, at the age of 19. Nevertheless, her fame only increased after her death, as her name was cleared by Charles II, 20 years later. She was then canonised by Pope Benedict XV in 1920, attaining mystic stature and becoming the patron saint of France.
Want to find out more about the life and death of Joan of Arc? Click here for more information, or click here for a documentary about her life.
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