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Joan of Arc: La Pucelle
This sourcebook collects together for the first time in English the major documents relating to the life and contemporary reputation of Joan of Arc. Also known as La Pucelle, she led a French Army against the English in 1429, arguably turning the course of the war in favour of the French king Charles VII. The fact that she achieved all of this when just a seventeen-year-old peasant girl highlights the magnitude of her achievements and also opens up other ways of looking at her story. For many, Joan represents the voice of ordinary people in the fifteenth century; the victims of high politics and warfare that devastated France. Her story ended tragically in 1431 when she was put on trial for heresy and sorcery by an ecclesiastical court and was burned at the stake. This book shows how the trial, which was organised by her enemies, provides an important window into late medieval attitudes towards religion and gender, as Joan was effectively persecuted by the established Church for her supposedly non-conformist views on spirituality and the role of women.
Presented within a contextual and critical framework, this book encourages scholars and students to rethink this remarkable story. It will be invaluable reading for those working in the fields of medieval society and heresy, as well as the Hundred Years’ War.
Presented within a contextual and critical framework, this book encourages scholars and students to rethink this remarkable story. It will be invaluable reading for those working in the fields of medieval society and heresy, as well as the Hundred Years’ War.
392 pages, Paperback
First published January 9, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 1, 2024
First historical sourcebook I’ve ever read and I have to say that I really liked it!
It was a different reading experience from what I’m used to, but my love towards history and the fact that I didn’t know almost anything (but wanting to deep dive and learn and get to know more) about Joan of Arc, wanted and decided to dive into this sourcebook.
It is a great book for those that want to get started into Joan of Arc, since it delivers in giving a general, and sometimes detailed, depiction of, not only, Joan’s lifestyle, but pretty much the most common believes of people in the Middle Ages.
I loved how after reading witnesses’s deposition after deposition I came to gradually immerse myself and realize how Joan truly was.
The more I read, the more I realized how cruel, twisted and harrowing the world could (and probably still can) be but at the same time how it can be mysterious, charming, loving and beautiful. And it was this last contrast that made me emotionally attached to this sourcebook and to Joan’s journey.
From here forward, in this review, I’m sharing some passages from the book that I loved and wish to have it in hand for future possible studies:
“she said to us, the Bishop [Cauchon]: You say that you are my judge; take care what you are doing because, in truth, I have been sent by God and you put yourself in great danger.'”
“Asked if she knew whether she was in the grace of God, she answered:
If I am not, may God put me there, and if I am, may God keep me there. I would be the saddest person in the world if I knew that I was not in the grace of God.'”
“Asked if she had a standard or banner when she went to Orléans, and of what colour, she answered that she had a standard with a field that was sown with lilies, and the world was depicted there, and two angels at the sides; and it was white in colour, of white linen or boucassin, and on it were written the names Jhesus Maria, it seemed to her, and it was fringed with silk.
Asked if these names Jhesus Maria were written above, below or at the side, she replied at the side, or so it seemed to her. Asked about which she preferred, either her standard or the sword, she answered that she liked her standard four times as much as her sword.
Asked who had her make this painting on the standard, she replied: 'I have told you often that I have done nothing except by the command of God. She also said that she herself carried the standard when she was attacking the enemy, in order to avoid killing anyone; and she said that she never killed anyone.”
“Asked if St Margaret did not speak the English language, she answered:
'Why should she speak English when she is not on the English side?'”
“(…)that he would take her to the King with God's help. He then asked her when she wished to leave, and she replied: 'Rather today than tomorrow, and tomorrow rather than later.'”
“(…)witness had had enough and wanted the army to return to the town.
Then the Pucelle came to him, asking him to wait a little longer; then, mounting her horse, she withdrew to a vineyard not far from the troops and remained in prayer in that vineyard for about seven or eight minutes. Then she returned, immediately took up her standard and placed it on the edge of the ditch; as soon as she was present, the English trembled and were seized by fear; the soldiers of the King recovered courage and began the ascent, delivering the boulevard by assault without meeting any resistance. The boulevard was thus taken and the English found there were put to flight and all killed.”
“(…) wanted the army to return to the town.
Then the Pucelle came to him, asking him to wait a little longer; then, mounting her horse, she withdrew to a vineyard not far from the troops and remained in prayer in that vineyard for about seven or eight minutes. Then she returned, immediately took up her standard and placed it on the edge of the ditch; as soon as she was present, the English trembled and were seized by fear; the soldiers of the King recovered courage and began the ascent, delivering the boulevard by assault without meeting any resistance. The boulevard was thus taken and the English found there were put to flight and all killed. The witness says that among others, Glasdale and other principal English captains of this fortress, planning to retreat into the tower of the bridge of Orléans, fell into the river and drowned. This Glasdale had been the one who spoke most offensively, dishonourably and scornfully to the Pucelle.”
“Thus the French arranged their army and lined up in battle formation, awaiting the English. Then, in the presence of the Con-stable,the witness and of many others, the Lord Duke of Alençon asked Joan what should be done. She answered him in a loud voice:
'Do you all have good spurs?' At these words those present asked Joan: 'What are you saying?" Should we take to our heels?" Then Joan replied: No! It will be the English who will not defend themselves and will be beaten, and you will need spurs to rush upon them.' And this was the case: the English fled and more than four thousand were either dead or prisoners.”
“'How happy I would be if, at the end of my days, I were to be buried in this place!' Hearing this, the Lord Archbishop said: 'O Joan, in what place do you hope to die?' She replied: 'Where it will please God, for I know no more than you the time or the place. Would that it might please God, my creator, that I might retire, abandoning arms, and that I might go to serve my father and mother, looking after their sheep with my sister and my brothers, who would rejoice so much to see me.'”
“Joan returned to her lodging and went up to her chamber, and the witness who is speaking thought that she was going to sleep. But shortly afterwards she came down and said these words to the witness: 'Ah! Blood-soaked boy, you did not tell me that the blood of France was being spilled!' And she ordered him to go and find her horse while she was armed by the lady of the house and her daughter. When the witness returned, having prepared her horse, he found Joan already armed; she then told the witness to go and find her standard which had been left upstairs, and the witness handed it to her through the window. Having taken her standard, Joan rushed off towards the Burgundy gate, and the lady of the house then told the witness to follow her, which he did. At that moment there was an attack or skirmish by Saint-Loup and in the course of this attack the boulevard was taken.”
“Joan was very pious and felt great pity in the face of such killing, because on one occasion a Frenchman, who was escorting certain English prisoners, struck one of them on the head so hard that he left him for dead. Seeing this, Joan dismounted and [arranged for] the Englishman's confession to be heard, supporting his head herself and comforting him as far as she could.”
“(…) this day the fortress of the Augustins was taken after a great assault.
Joan, who was accustomed to fast every Friday, could not fast on that day because she was too tired and she ate.”
“Some of the men-at-arms saw her wounded in this way and wished to treat her by an incantation, to 'charm' her, but she refused, saying: I would prefer to die rather than to do a thing which I know to be a sin, or to be against the will of God'”
“'I well know that the English will put me to death, thinking to win the kingdom of France after my death. But even if they were a hundred thousand more than they are at present, these "godons" [blasphemers] would not have the kingdom.'”
It was a different reading experience from what I’m used to, but my love towards history and the fact that I didn’t know almost anything (but wanting to deep dive and learn and get to know more) about Joan of Arc, wanted and decided to dive into this sourcebook.
It is a great book for those that want to get started into Joan of Arc, since it delivers in giving a general, and sometimes detailed, depiction of, not only, Joan’s lifestyle, but pretty much the most common believes of people in the Middle Ages.
I loved how after reading witnesses’s deposition after deposition I came to gradually immerse myself and realize how Joan truly was.
The more I read, the more I realized how cruel, twisted and harrowing the world could (and probably still can) be but at the same time how it can be mysterious, charming, loving and beautiful. And it was this last contrast that made me emotionally attached to this sourcebook and to Joan’s journey.
From here forward, in this review, I’m sharing some passages from the book that I loved and wish to have it in hand for future possible studies:
“she said to us, the Bishop [Cauchon]: You say that you are my judge; take care what you are doing because, in truth, I have been sent by God and you put yourself in great danger.'”
“Asked if she knew whether she was in the grace of God, she answered:
If I am not, may God put me there, and if I am, may God keep me there. I would be the saddest person in the world if I knew that I was not in the grace of God.'”
“Asked if she had a standard or banner when she went to Orléans, and of what colour, she answered that she had a standard with a field that was sown with lilies, and the world was depicted there, and two angels at the sides; and it was white in colour, of white linen or boucassin, and on it were written the names Jhesus Maria, it seemed to her, and it was fringed with silk.
Asked if these names Jhesus Maria were written above, below or at the side, she replied at the side, or so it seemed to her. Asked about which she preferred, either her standard or the sword, she answered that she liked her standard four times as much as her sword.
Asked who had her make this painting on the standard, she replied: 'I have told you often that I have done nothing except by the command of God. She also said that she herself carried the standard when she was attacking the enemy, in order to avoid killing anyone; and she said that she never killed anyone.”
“Asked if St Margaret did not speak the English language, she answered:
'Why should she speak English when she is not on the English side?'”
“(…)that he would take her to the King with God's help. He then asked her when she wished to leave, and she replied: 'Rather today than tomorrow, and tomorrow rather than later.'”
“(…)witness had had enough and wanted the army to return to the town.
Then the Pucelle came to him, asking him to wait a little longer; then, mounting her horse, she withdrew to a vineyard not far from the troops and remained in prayer in that vineyard for about seven or eight minutes. Then she returned, immediately took up her standard and placed it on the edge of the ditch; as soon as she was present, the English trembled and were seized by fear; the soldiers of the King recovered courage and began the ascent, delivering the boulevard by assault without meeting any resistance. The boulevard was thus taken and the English found there were put to flight and all killed.”
“(…) wanted the army to return to the town.
Then the Pucelle came to him, asking him to wait a little longer; then, mounting her horse, she withdrew to a vineyard not far from the troops and remained in prayer in that vineyard for about seven or eight minutes. Then she returned, immediately took up her standard and placed it on the edge of the ditch; as soon as she was present, the English trembled and were seized by fear; the soldiers of the King recovered courage and began the ascent, delivering the boulevard by assault without meeting any resistance. The boulevard was thus taken and the English found there were put to flight and all killed. The witness says that among others, Glasdale and other principal English captains of this fortress, planning to retreat into the tower of the bridge of Orléans, fell into the river and drowned. This Glasdale had been the one who spoke most offensively, dishonourably and scornfully to the Pucelle.”
“Thus the French arranged their army and lined up in battle formation, awaiting the English. Then, in the presence of the Con-stable,the witness and of many others, the Lord Duke of Alençon asked Joan what should be done. She answered him in a loud voice:
'Do you all have good spurs?' At these words those present asked Joan: 'What are you saying?" Should we take to our heels?" Then Joan replied: No! It will be the English who will not defend themselves and will be beaten, and you will need spurs to rush upon them.' And this was the case: the English fled and more than four thousand were either dead or prisoners.”
“'How happy I would be if, at the end of my days, I were to be buried in this place!' Hearing this, the Lord Archbishop said: 'O Joan, in what place do you hope to die?' She replied: 'Where it will please God, for I know no more than you the time or the place. Would that it might please God, my creator, that I might retire, abandoning arms, and that I might go to serve my father and mother, looking after their sheep with my sister and my brothers, who would rejoice so much to see me.'”
“Joan returned to her lodging and went up to her chamber, and the witness who is speaking thought that she was going to sleep. But shortly afterwards she came down and said these words to the witness: 'Ah! Blood-soaked boy, you did not tell me that the blood of France was being spilled!' And she ordered him to go and find her horse while she was armed by the lady of the house and her daughter. When the witness returned, having prepared her horse, he found Joan already armed; she then told the witness to go and find her standard which had been left upstairs, and the witness handed it to her through the window. Having taken her standard, Joan rushed off towards the Burgundy gate, and the lady of the house then told the witness to follow her, which he did. At that moment there was an attack or skirmish by Saint-Loup and in the course of this attack the boulevard was taken.”
“Joan was very pious and felt great pity in the face of such killing, because on one occasion a Frenchman, who was escorting certain English prisoners, struck one of them on the head so hard that he left him for dead. Seeing this, Joan dismounted and [arranged for] the Englishman's confession to be heard, supporting his head herself and comforting him as far as she could.”
“(…) this day the fortress of the Augustins was taken after a great assault.
Joan, who was accustomed to fast every Friday, could not fast on that day because she was too tired and she ate.”
“Some of the men-at-arms saw her wounded in this way and wished to treat her by an incantation, to 'charm' her, but she refused, saying: I would prefer to die rather than to do a thing which I know to be a sin, or to be against the will of God'”
“'I well know that the English will put me to death, thinking to win the kingdom of France after my death. But even if they were a hundred thousand more than they are at present, these "godons" [blasphemers] would not have the kingdom.'”
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December 1, 2023Icon
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May 16, 2023
It takes little effort to dash off a romanticized (often fictionalized) account of a famous figure. It is considerably harder to collect a balanced record of actual events relating to such a person.
Jean de Arc was a controversial figure in her own time, and it was a time of petty fiefdoms and pettier lords. She has only become more controversial over time and is now appropriated and "reinterpreted" to fit the prejudices and presumptions of modern times, and co-opted for political use.
Even contemporary accounts were bitterly partisan.
The truth is hidden in the conflicting accounts.
What I love about this work is that it is edited in the the best sense of the word, to preserve the character of the sources while identifying the bias inherent in one source or another. By juxtaposition one may glean the true tragic yet inspiring story of faith and destiny which keeps successive generations coming back to Jean.
It is often said of history books that one learns as much or more about the beliefs and prejudices of the author as one learns of the subject. Taylor's work is a masterful exception.
If the legend fascinates you, the details collected by Taylor will enthrall you.
Jean de Arc was a controversial figure in her own time, and it was a time of petty fiefdoms and pettier lords. She has only become more controversial over time and is now appropriated and "reinterpreted" to fit the prejudices and presumptions of modern times, and co-opted for political use.
Even contemporary accounts were bitterly partisan.
The truth is hidden in the conflicting accounts.
What I love about this work is that it is edited in the the best sense of the word, to preserve the character of the sources while identifying the bias inherent in one source or another. By juxtaposition one may glean the true tragic yet inspiring story of faith and destiny which keeps successive generations coming back to Jean.
It is often said of history books that one learns as much or more about the beliefs and prejudices of the author as one learns of the subject. Taylor's work is a masterful exception.
If the legend fascinates you, the details collected by Taylor will enthrall you.
May 5, 2021
This sourcebook is an excellent way to evaluate late medieval attitudes, specifically towards gender and religion, through contemporary primary and secondary sources. It contains Joan's Trial of Condemnation and Nullification Trial as well as documents that speak to her reputation and memory. I would recommend reading this in tandem with something like "Joan of Arc: Her Story" by Pernoud and Clin if you are not already familiar with the context in which these sources were written. Taylor does provide introductions though that explain document's importance, relevance, and authorship. This is a necessity for anybody who is interested in studying Joan of Arc.
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March 10, 2020The account of the trial and Christine de Pizan’s poem.
April 16, 2016
I thought this book was interesting. Joan has always been one of those women in history that I have always admire. This book is full of letters, poems, and court records of Joan and why she was burned at the stake. I was surprised to read that she had so many supporters. I wish the book had a little bit more flow and not be so random and if there was a better way to identify where the author's comment ended and the primary source begins. Other than that I like the read even if it was for a class.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews