Beschrijving
Stipple engraving of Joan of Arc.
Joan of Arc (c. 1412 – 30 May 1431) was a French peasant girl who became one of the most iconic figures in French history and a symbol of courage and faith. Born in the village of Domrémy, she claimed to experience visions and hear voices from saints, including Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret, instructing her to support Charles VII and help expel the English from France during the Hundred Years War.
Her presence in the French army dramatically boosted French morale, and she played a key role in lifting the Siege of Orléans in 1429. She also helped lead the campaign that enabled Charles VII to be crowned king at Reims, a crucial moment for French legitimacy.
Joan was captured in 1430 by Burgundian forces allied with the English and was handed over to English authorities. She was put on trial by an ecclesiastical court, accused of heresy, witchcraft, and wearing male clothing. Despite her courage and intelligence during the trial, she was found guilty and burned at the stake at approximately nineteen years old.
In 1456, her conviction was formally overturned. Centuries later, she was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1920 and remains a lasting symbol of faith, patriotism, and resistance.
Engraving by Willem van Senus.
