We all believe we know the story of Joan of Arc, one of the patron Saints of France. A young peasant woman who God called to lead the dauphin to the altar to be crowned King Charles VII of France in a time of civil war between the Armagnacs and the Burgundians, as well as the continuation of the war between England and France. It was a political quagmire, but somehow, as the story goes, Joan of Arc resolved the civil war and gave France a fighting chance against the English. But what did Joan of Arc actually accomplish during her short life? Helen Castor examines the life of this extraordinary young woman in her book “Joan of Arc: A History.”

 

I have been following Helen Castor for a few years now, and I have heard about this book, but I have not read it until now. Since I have started studying medieval history, I have read a few accounts of Joan of Arc, but I have never read a full biography about the Maid herself, so I was excited to learn more. 

 

To understand the reason why a single young woman who donned armor and led an army to victory, we must go back to the beginning of the conflict between the Armagnacs and the Burgundians, as well as how the English had the advantage over the French at this time in the Hundred Years’ War. France had a relatively weak King Charles VI, who suffered from mental illness. Two potential leaders emerged from the chaos: the king’s son, the dauphin, Charles VII, for the Armagnacs, and John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy, for the Burgundians. The Burgundians were a commanding force; the Armagnacs needed a miracle, or in this case, a maiden sent by God.

 

Joan was seen as just a peasant girl from Domremy who heard voices. This may not seem extremely extraordinary in an age where many men and women claimed to have heard voices from God. However, what separated Joan from others before her was the fact that she donned armor and led the Armagnac army during the Orleans campaign. She was victorious and was able to have the dauphin crowned King Charles VII of France. However, her luck shortly ran out when she was captured by the English, placed on trial, and declared guilty of heresy before she was burned at the stake. Finally, Castor examines the trial to redeem Joan’s legacy and how a mere girl became a patron saint of an entire country.

 

I found this a very engaging and informative biography about Joan of Arc. Castor not only tells her audience the story of a girl who became an icon, but also the story of how France was broken and became whole again. If you are a fan of medieval history, you will enjoy “Joan of Arc: A History” by Helen Castor.