The Trial of Joan of Arc in Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc

Abstract

Though brief, the military career of joan of arc as commander of the French army was astoundingly brilliant. A girl in her teens, she won the great victories at Orleans and Patay; she checked and nearly crushed the power of the English in France; she defeated or captured many of their best military leaders; and she led the Dauphin to Rheims and stood at his side while he was crowned King Charles VII. In spite of all that she had done for him and for France, her weak and ungrateful king deserted her, withdrawing his support at the very time when she was ready to capture Paris and drive the English from French soil. On May 24, 1430, in a sortie from Compiègne, besieged by the Burgundians, she was captured and taken a prisoner to the Duke of Burgundy’s camp. The English and the Burgundians were filled with joy, for she had struck terror to their hearts.