St. Joan of Arc

Louis, Duke of Orleans, is assasinated

Nov 23, 1407

John, the Duke of Burgundy, organized the assasination of Louis, Duke of Orleans, while both of them were staying in Paris. This began an inconsistently active civil war in northern France. (Lowell 1896, 4) Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Assassinat_louis_orleans.jpg

Birth of St. Joan

Jan 6, 1412

St. Joan of Arc was born in Domremy, France on January 6 1412. Image: https://www.thoughtco.com/medieval-child-surviving-infancy-1789124

Lancastrian Phase of the 100 Years War Begins

1415

The Lancastrian phase of the 100 years war began with King Henry V's invasion of Normandy. This invasion was made possible by King Henry consolidating his power in England and the civil war between the Armagnacs (supporters of Charles VII) and Burgundians in France. (Lowell 1896,5) The English had the upper hand in this phase of the war up until the campaigns of St. Joan of Arc. Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Treaty_of_Troyes.svg

Battle of Agincourt

Oct 25, 1415

The battle of Agincourt was a major victory for Henry V and a defeat for France that opened the way to further English conquests. The French defeat was partly caused by the lack of support from Burgundy, the weather slowing down the horses, the power of the English longbowman, innovative English tactics, and Henry's prudent choice for a battlefield location. (Martinez 2021, https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Agincourt) Image: in the cited article

John, Duke of Burgundy, is killed

1419

Charles VII and John the Duke of Burgundy agreed to meet at the bridge over the Yonne at Montereau. Even though they had taken every precaution to avoid an assasination, John was still murdered by a former servant of the dead Duke Louis. (Lowell 1896, 7) Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_the_Fearless_assassination.jpg

Treaty of Troyes signed

May 21, 1420

Henry V was able to force Charles VI to sign the treaty of Troyes, labelling Henry V and his successors as the heirs to the French crown, due to pressure from Phillip, the Duke of Burgundy, and the successor of John who had just been killed. (Lowell 1896, 7) Image: https://intriguing-history.com/treaty-troyes-1420/

Henry V of England and Charles VI of France die

1422

Henry V died on August 13 1422, leaving the kingdom of England to his infant son, Henry VI. Charles VI died the same year on October 21 1422. Due to the treaty of Troyes which designated the successors of Henry V as the successors to the throne of France, both England and France were officially ruled by the infant, Henry VI. Charles VII would not stop fighting in this situation as he had no strong rival. Image:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Le_Bal_des_Ardents.jpg

St. Joan's first Recorded Vision

1425

St. Joan's village was raided by the forces of Henry of Orly. Even though Henry fought for neither side of the hundred years war, the raid caused the people of Joan's village to believe that peace would only come when the English were driven from France. Shortly after this raid, St. Joan began to receive visions. She first had a vision of St. Michael the Archangel who would tell her to live a virtuous life. (Lowell 1896, 27-28) Image: jeanne-darc.info/biography/visions/

St. Joan Arrives in Chinon

Mar 1, 1429

St. Joan arrived in Chinon where Charles VII held court on March 6 1429. (https://www.jeanne-darc.info/location/chinon/) One legend states that the court tested her by telling her a different mad was Charles VII, but Joan's voices revealed to her who Charles truly was. (Morrison 2016, 171) Image: https://www.jeanne-darc.info/location/chinon/

St. Joan Breaks the Siege of Orleans (

May 8, 1429

The siege of Orleans began on October 12, 1428. St. Joan arrived in the city, hoping to relieve the siege, on the 31st of April 1429. She would fight three battles and then confront the last of the English forces on the 8th of May. since it was Sunday, she did not fight them. She had a priest celebrate two masses in-front of her army, and the last English forces left. (Lowell 1896, 95-114) Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lenepveu,_Jeanne_d%27Arc_au_si%C3%A8ge_d%27Orl%C3%A9ans.jpg

Charles VII Crowned King of France in Rheims

Jul 17, 1429

Through her insistence and charisma, St. Joan convinced Charles VII to journey to Rheims where he would be crowned. Many cities opposed him with words, but they all surrendered to him shortly after or before his arrival. After being crowned on the 17th of August, many cities in Northern France surrendered to Charles. However, the guidance Joans voices gave her became less clear. (Lowell 1896, 139-160) Image: https://www.traditioninaction.org/History/C_005_JoanArc.html

The Siege of Paris

Sep 8, 1429

St. Joan began the siege of Paris on September 3rd after a long campaign advancing toward the city. The day after Charles VII arrived, on September 8th, the birthday of Mary, the Mother of God, St. Joan attempted to stormed the city, fearing Charles would retreat if she waited. The attack failed and the French army retreated. (Lowell 1896, 171-179) Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Le_si%C3%A8ge_de_Paris_en_1429_par_Jeanne_d%27Arc_-_Martial.jpg

St. Joan is Captured

May 23, 1430

St. Joan went on a campaign to defend the city of Compiegne from a Burgundian attack. After her fellow commanders abandoned the city, Joan decided to continue fighting for it anyways. After sallying out to attack the Burgundians, Joan was captured in an ambush since she chose to stay with the reargaurd. (Lowell 1896, 206-222) Image: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Joan-of-Arc/Capture-trial-and-execution#/media/1/304220/205144

The Condemnation Trial of St. Joan of Arc Begins

Jan 9, 1431

The condemnation Trial of St. Joan of Arc is the most comprehensive record we have of a trial in the 15th century. We know so much about St. Joan's life primarily because of this trial and the later rehabilitation trial. When the trial began, there was no question she would be condemned as it was conducted by her enemies. Nonetheless, Joan defended herself expertly. Full text of the trial and image used here: https://www.jeanne-darc.info/trial-of-condemnation-index/

Death of St. Joan

May 30, 1431

After Joan was convicted of heresy and sentenced to death, she signed a letter of recantation, though she may not have known exactly what she was signing. After being held in the same prison that she was taken out of, Joan re-affirmed her belief in her visions and put on men's clothing, so she was burned at the stake. (Lowell 1896, 316-341) Image: https://www.history.com/news/joan-arc-burned-stake

A Joan of Arc Imposter Deceives Joan's Brothers

1436

Claude de Armoises was a Joan of Arc imposter that became extremely popular, particularly once Joan's own brothers visited her and confirmed her story. After this, she lived a wild life, becoming the mistress of the count of Luxembourg and the wife of a knight who she soon left. She was quickly excommunicated and then exposed by the King himself in 1439. (Lowell 1896, 345-348) Image: https://historycollection.com/reading-10-audacious-imposters-history-will-give-trust-issues/8/

Surrender of Bordeaux

Oct 19, 1453

Bordeaux had been part of English domains since the reign of Henry II, the French regime was unfamiliar to them, so they resisted as long as they could. After the French defeated an English army at the battle of Castillon, Bordeaux surrendered, marking the traditional end of the hundred years war. (Britannica 2022, https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Castillon) Image: https://www.northwindprints.com/british-history/city-bordeaux-retaken-french-years-war-5878938.html

Joan of Arc Declared Innocent by the Nullification Trial

Jul 7, 1456

The Nullification Trial of Joan of Arc began on the 7th of November 1455 and ended on the 7th of July 1456. The trial is a crucial primary source for studying Joan's life. The rehabilitation trial would also rebuild her reputation in the Catholic Church and lay the foundation for her eventual canonization. Full Text of the Trial: https://www.jeanne-darc.info/trial-of-nullification/
Image: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Retrial_of_Joan_of_Arc

Treaty of Picquigny

Aug 29, 1475

Despite the fact that the surrender of Bordeaux marks the traditional end of the hundred years war, the treaty of Picquigny effectively ended all hostilities between England and France. (Britannica, editors, 2020:https://www.britannica.com/question/How-did-the-Hundred-Years-War-end) Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Circle_of_Jean_Chalette_(Troyes_1581-1643_Toulouse);_an_alliance_between_the_King_of_England_and_the_King_of_France,_possibly_depicting_the_Treaty_of_Picquigny.jpg

Canonization of St. Joan of Arc

May 16, 1920

After the Rehabilitation trial of St. Joan of Arc, the cause for her canonization would eventually wane even though her influence remained strong. It wasn't until the bishop of Orleans expressly wished for her canonization in the 1869 celebration of the lifting of the siege of Orleans that investigation began. (Lowell 1896, 372) She was canonized 51 years and 9 days later. Image: https://www.jeanne-darc.info/biography/canonization/