Character Research – Joan of Arc

Hi everyone!

Today, I’m going to be talking about a historic figure that’s actually inspiring my character designs: Joan of Arc (or in the original French: Jeanne d’Arc).

As I mentioned in my story notes, I want to have one of my characters be a kind of “Holy Maiden”, and the first one I could think of from history was Jeanne d’Arc. Also, I was watching Fate/Apocrypha at the time, and they use an interpretation of her for the series, so I guess you could say that it also something to do with this.

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Anyway, back to the main topic here. Jeanne was born sometime around 1412 (15th Century) to a farmer; Jacques d’Arc and his wife (who I can’t find a name for). She was illiterate (couldn’t read or write), but her mother instilled in her a fervent devotion to the catholic faith.

When she was 13, she began hearing voices, whcih she believed to be the catholic god telling her that it was her mission to save france from the english during the hundred years war. After coming to this mission, she took a vow of chastity. This was used to get her out of an arranged marriage that her father had planned for her.

In the May of 1428, she made her way to Vaucouleurs, which was a stronghold of those loyal to Charles of Valois, whom was believed to be the rightful king of France. She was initially denied entry, but was persistant enough to be granted an audience with Charles. What she and Charles spoke about is largely unknown and unrecorded, but he allowed her to lead an army to the beseiged city of Orléans (at her insistance).

Jeanne set of with her new army to Orléans in the March of 1429. She had cut her hair short, wore white armour, and rode a white horse. To be honest, I wonder how much that did to influence the popular fairy-tale belief of noble knights wearing white, riding white horses? Anyway, I digress. She sent a defiant letter to the english, and afterwards joined in several assualts to push the english back across the river Liore.

After this victory, her reputation spread. She escorted Charles across the english held french territories to Reims, which is the traditional locale for french coronations, taking any town that resisted by force. Jeanne also argued that the french forces should retake Paris, but Charles was wavering; his friends at court were warning him about Jeanne becoming too powerful. The english fortified their defences, and Jeanne was unable to retake the city in the September.

During the next spring (1430), King Charles VII ordered her to deal with an assault on the town of Compiégne. During the battle, she was thrown from her horse, and left outside the town gates as they were being closed. She was subsequently captured by the english, and brough to Rouen.

She was then tried as a witch and a heretic, as well as for being dressed as a man (Which was illegal at the time); in fact there were over 70 charges against her in total! Charles, although owing his coronation to her, did nothing to secure her release. On May 30th 1431, at the age of 19, she was burned at the stake in the old market of Rouen.

2o years later, Charles ordered a new trial, and successfully managed to clear her name. She was later canonized as a catholic saint in 1920.

Whew! That’s a lot of info in one go. Now I bet you’re wondering what possible inspiration I could use from her? Well, she was ascribed as a Holy Maiden (which is a concept I wish t use), as well as being someone who was not of nole lineage, yet still accomplished things that the nobility couldn’t do. I’m thinking of using that as well, given the part of my story idea that deals with a war. In essence, she’s ideal for what I have in mind. Now I know I can’t just steal the entire historical character wholesale, as I’m NOT making a pseudo-historical piece. The only bits that I’m thinking of using are the fact that she was a competant leader, and her attestment of being a religious figure. Aside from that, I’m going to try and design the rest of the character that I want to use myself.

Anyway, that’s one character looked at! I’m hoping to have more soon! Until then!

Bibliography:

HISTORY. (2019). Joan of Arc. [online] Available at: https://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages/saint-joan-of-arc [Accessed 3 Apr. 2019].