Joan Of Arc's Impact On French History

From time to time you may catch yourself wondering what would have happened if you had made a different decision or if a certain person had never entered your life. Historical events all happened because of the actions someone or a group of people committed or the pure existence of someone. What would history be like if the Hitler did not exist, if Franz Ferdinand the archduke of Austria-Hungary was never assassinated, or if Spain never supported Christopher Columbus’s voyages? Throughout this essay the impact that Joan of Arc had on French History will be discussed as well as what it would be like if she never walked on this planet. Without Joan of Arc France today as an independent country would probably not exist.
The Hundred Years’
War was a time period from 1337 to 1453 where France and England did not see eye to eye. Even when France was a more powerful state, the English had a more power army and were more successful in battles, conquering and taking over many important French cities(Hundred Years’ War). Then Charles V, son of King John of France, made it his priority and worked on regaining a vast amount of territory back from the English. England was not going to let itself be defeated and Henry V continued the war conquered Normandy later attempting to be crowned king in 1420 (Hundred Years’ War). During this time he was supported by the duke of Burgundy, however in 1429 the duke slowly took away his support when England’s position started to fall (Banfield 16). In 1422 both Henry V and Charles VI died leaving it uncertain to whom the crown of France would go to (Leadbeater).
Joan of Arc was born January 6, 1412 and died nineteen years later on May 20.
Joan was born into a peasant family and she did not have a proper education and spent a lot of time on the farm. Living and dying for her country France, Joan was involved and participated in the Hundred Year War at a very young age. Leading the French army to victory at the age of 18 she became a national hero to her country but died burned accused of heresy (Joan of Arc). What could such a young girl in this time period be doing fighting a war? At the age of thirteen Joan began to hear voices in her head, she reported that the first person that spoke to her was St. Michael, St. Margaret, and St, Catherine (Banfield 21). In the beginning the voices did not ask much of her but as time went by, they began to demand more and more. According to Banfield, at the age of 16 Saint Michael came to her with the task of going the realm of France to drive the English out and to get the king to be crowned. Normally a woman during this time attempting to lead an army would be thought as crazy or shut down automatically. However, people were expecting someone with the same characteristics to come out of the shadows and save France (Banfield 18).
The reason that Charles VII came to be the king of France was thanks to Joan of Arc. Charles VII was not going to be given the crown and he was comfortable with this (Banfield 17). According to Banfield, “Charles VII, son of Charles VI, was not mad, but as a leader he was
little better than his father. He grew up with a deep sense of inferiority and certainly no sense of kingliness.” With the guidance and help of Joan of Arc, Charles VII was able to gain confidence and was crowned July 17, 1429.
At the end Joan was imprisoned by England and put on trial for heresy. She was no longer supported by the King of France, he did not ask for her ransom. She was put on trial by the church on accounts that the voices in her head from from the devil and not God himself. Many of her actions piled up against her and resulted in her being burned. Joan of Arc was an essential figure in the Hundred Years’ War she rose up and gave the French hopes they were able to drive out the English forces that were upon them. With God on her side Joan and her armies were able to reconquer Orleans, leading to the liberation of Paris and other key places in France. If Joan of Arc had never existed Charles VII would have never became king and an English ruler would have probably gained control of the crown and France would have became part of England. After France got rid of the hold the English had on them they became a very important power in Europe, strengthening its government. Not being able to write its own history and having to follow English laws, customs, and ideals there would have never been a French Revolution which greatly impacted Europe. The French Revolution put into question whether or not kings and queens were the rightful leaders and they questioned the rights of citizens. If France had not become its own nation with the help of Joan of Arc, then a vast majority of Europe would have still been under the rule of a monarch and the idea of democracy or a republic would have not began to circulate around Europe. Noted that we now follow a democratic and republican system.