Henry V, Charles' son-in-law was also dead, leaving his infant son, Henry VI, son of Henry V of England and Catherine of France, the presumptive heir. The French would not accept him and renewed their fight to have the dauphin take the throne as Charles VII. The battles continued what would be known as the "Hundred Years War." Two people, the Bastard son of Duke Louis of Orleans, and a sixteen year old girl from a small village in the Lorraine district of France, would change the course of history. In less than two years Joan of Arc led the French to victory at the gates of Orleans, saw Charles crowned rightful king and died, murdered by priests paid by the English. Jeanette d'Arc was born and lived for most of her life, in a small village close to the Burgundian border. Her father, Jacques, was the local sheriff and tax gatherer. Her mother, Isabelle Romee, was a wise woman and helped the village women in childbirth. Joan learned those skills, too. So well, that she was able to use the ploy of helping her cousin, Durrand Lexart's wife with her first pregnancy. In reality, she went to the local Squire, Robert de Baudricourt asking him to send her to Chinon. to meet Charles, the Dauphin who had been forced back to Chinon, the last stronghold of Royal France. The Captain reluctantly sent her, with a small party of loyalists, across the width of the country to meet with Charles and his advisors. No one is exactly certain what the young woman told him, but he seemed to take heart and agreed to accept her help. After a month of close examination, both morally and physically, the priests decided that she was a good Christian. Queen Yolanda, Charles' mother-in-law declared her a virgin and the stage was set for the end of the siege of the city of Orleans. Jean Dunios, the Bastard of Orleans, was willing to accept any help. He'd held Orleans against the English for many months without any word from the Dauphin. Joan's certainty gave heart to Jean, and together with Alencon, Le Hire and the Army Joan brought from Chinon, They took the fight to the English. May 8, the day the city was freed from the English, is still celebrated in Orleans. With Orleans in French hands, the next step was to see Charles crowned. One by one, the towns in the path to Rheims yielded to Joan's army and finally, on July 18, 1429, Charles was crowned. Sadly, Charles was advised to make a truce with Burgundy and the momentum Joan and her armies worked so hard for, slowed to a standstill. At the walls of Paris, they were forced to retreat and the bridge burned behind them. Joan rode with a small party to aid the people of Compiegne and was captured on May 20, 1430. Someone ordered the gate of the city closed and she was still outside. The archer who dragged her from her horse was in service to Jean of Luxemburg and he sold her to Burgundy. Charles VII could have ransomed her. He made no attempt to do so. Le Hire, one of her captains attempted to rescue her but she had been moved. Jean Dunois may also have tried. He was certainly one of the people who took Paris and completed her task years later. Some of the people in Rouen wept as she was brought out to the stake and an English soldier tied two sticks together to make a cross for her. She was burned at the stake May 30, 1431 and some 500 years later, the Catholic Church declared her a saint. |