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Alessandro Barbero Come pensava una donna nel Medioevo? 3 - Giovanna d'Arco

Davide Totaro・2 minutes read

Joan of Arc, a peasant girl from France, rose to prominence during the Hundred Years' War through her divine visions, leading to her support for the Dauphin and eventual military command, culminating in the liberation of Orléans and the crowning of Charles VII. However, after her capture in 1430, she faced a politically motivated trial by the English, resulting in her execution for heresy in 1431, despite widespread recognition of her significance and the irregularities of her trial process.

Insights

Joan of Arc, who died at just 19, stands out as a significant historical figure not only for her role in the Hundred Years' War but also for her status as a saint, with her life extensively documented through two trials that highlight her political and religious importance in the 15th century.
The first trial, lasting nearly five months and involving 131 judges, meticulously recorded every word Joan spoke, offering a detailed account of her beliefs and character, while the second trial aimed to clear her name by gathering testimonies from those who knew her, revealing personal insights and anecdotes about her life.
Joan's divine calling to support the Dauphin and her subsequent actions, including donning male attire and leading troops into battle, challenged gender norms of her time and demonstrated her unique role in a male-dominated military environment, culminating in her significant victories, including the liberation of Orléans and the crowning of Charles VII.
Despite her achievements, Joan faced a politically motivated trial where she was accused of heresy and cross-dressing, ultimately leading to her execution; the trial's irregularities and the emotional reactions of those involved reflect the complex interplay of power, faith, and societal expectations during a turbulent period in French history.

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Summary

00:00

Joan of Arc A Saint and Warrior

Joan of Arc, who died at 19, is one of three extraordinary women, alongside Catherine of Siena, who were recognized as saints, with Joan being the most documented figure of her time due to her trials and political significance in the 15th century.
Joan was tried twice: first in 1431, where the English sought her execution, and again 20 years later, initiated by the King of France to clear her name and prove she was not a heretic, providing extensive documentation about her life and character.
The first trial lasted nearly five months and involved 131 judges, including theologians and university professors, with every word she spoke transcribed, allowing for a detailed account of her statements and corrections.
The second trial aimed to annul the first and included testimonies from people who knew Joan, revealing personal anecdotes and insights into her character, such as her childhood friend recalling her departure and a knight's admiration for her beauty.
Joan was born around 1412 in a village in Lorraine, France, and was known as Jean d'Arc, with "d'Arc" being her father's surname, Jacques d'Arc, and her mother being Isabel Romè; she was a peasant girl from a relatively well-off farming family.
At the time of her trial, Joan claimed to be about 19 years old, and her family was politically active, with her father often serving as the village mayor, indicating a level of social standing beyond mere peasantry.
During the Hundred Years' War, Joan felt a divine calling to support the Dauphin, the legitimate heir to the French throne, and left her village to assist him in reclaiming France from English control, with her brothers later joining her in battle.
Joan's village was divided in loyalty during the war, with her side supporting the Dauphin while neighboring villages sided with the English, highlighting the local political tensions and her awareness of the broader conflict.
Witnesses from her village described Joan as deeply religious, attending mass frequently and confessing often, which set her apart from her peers, some of whom viewed her piety with skepticism.
At around 12 or 13 years old, Joan began hearing voices that she believed were divine, guiding her towards her mission to save France, which she pursued with determination, eventually seeking out military leaders to fulfill her calling.

17:05

Giovanna's Divine Mission in Wartime France

The narrative begins with a Captain of the Carabinieri responding to a little girl, Giovanna, who claims she ran away to save her country, leading him to contact her family to return her home, emphasizing the family's fear and the societal norms of the time regarding honor and shame.
Giovanna's mother acknowledges her daughter's desire to run away again, revealing the family's concern that Giovanna might join the soldiers, which reflects the broader context of France being in a prolonged state of war, where many girls sought to escape with soldiers, often leading to tragic outcomes.
The family discusses the potential dishonor Giovanna's actions could bring, contemplating extreme measures such as drowning her to preserve their honor, illustrating the harsh realities and societal pressures faced by families during wartime.
A historical parallel is drawn with a case from Aosta archives, where brothers drowned their kleptomaniac sister to avoid dishonor, highlighting the extreme lengths families would go to protect their reputation.
Giovanna, feeling increasingly desperate, eventually runs away again, this time at the age of 17, and seeks out the Captain of the Dolphin, who decides to trust her and sends her to the Dauphin, the heir to the French throne.
The context reveals that Giovanna is not the first to claim divine messages; such occurrences were relatively common in war-torn France, with previous instances of women claiming to be sent by God to save the kingdom, which sets the stage for her mission.
The Captain provides Giovanna with a horse and sword, and she dresses as a man, cutting her hair in a bowl style, which was the male fashion of the time, to undertake her journey to the Dauphin, supported by local villagers who provide her with a male outfit.
Giovanna travels for 11 days with an escort of men-at-arms to reach the Dauphin, where she insists on speaking to him alone, asserting her divine mission to lead his armies against the English besieging Orléans, a critical city for France.
The Dauphin, initially skeptical, convenes a commission of theologians and advisors to assess Giovanna's claims, which includes rigorous questioning about her visions and a virginity examination, reflecting the societal norms and the importance of her purity in validating her mission.
The commission ultimately concludes that Giovanna is sincere and possibly divinely inspired, deciding to take the risk of supporting her claim, despite her illiteracy and the skepticism of the male intellectuals, as she confidently asserts that God's knowledge surpasses that of any cleric.

34:46

Joan of Arc's Rise and Fall in France

The political and military efforts are mobilized to determine if Giovanna (Joan of Arc) is the prophesied savior of France, with prophecies suggesting a girl from Lorraine will save the kingdom, which Joan herself likely read and was inspired by.
Joan is rapidly trained in military skills, including riding and fighting in armor, despite being only 17 years old, and is provided with a squire, armor, and multiple horses, indicating her preparation for commanding an army.
The king grants Joan a coat of arms featuring two golden lilies on a blue field, symbolizing her noble status and connection to the French crown, which she carries into battle as she leads troops against the English.
On March 22, 1429, Joan writes a bold letter to the English regent, Duke of Bedford, demanding the return of French cities and threatening violence if they do not comply, showcasing her confidence and authority as a military leader.
During the siege of Orléans, Joan leads assaults, climbs fortifications, and is wounded four times, demonstrating her active role in combat and her ability to inspire and rally troops, ultimately resulting in the liberation of the city.
Following her victories, Joan accompanies Charles VII (the Dauphin) to Reims, where he is crowned king of France on July 16, 1429, marking a significant turning point in the Hundred Years' War.
Joan's relationship with her male and female companions is noted, as she maintains a close bond with her female attendants while also engaging with male soldiers, reflecting her unique position in a male-dominated military environment.
After initial successes, Joan faces setbacks, including a failed assault on Paris and her eventual capture by Burgundian forces in May 1430, leading to her imprisonment and subsequent trial.
The English negotiate with the Burgundians to obtain Joan, who is then transferred to Rouen for trial, where she is accused of heresy and cross-dressing, with the English seeking to discredit her as a divine figure.
The trial is conducted by Bishop Cochon of Beauvais, a supporter of the English, who aims to legally condemn Joan for her claims of divine guidance and her defiance of gender norms, leading to her eventual execution.

51:12

Politically Charged Trial of Giovanna

The trial is politically motivated, with the deputy inquisitor of Rouan initially refusing to participate due to jurisdictional issues, as the crime occurred in the diocese of Bovè, requiring superior authorization to proceed.
After obtaining permission, the inquisition reluctantly agrees to manage the trial, which is known to be politically charged, with the English already having predetermined its outcome.
Over five months, 131 university professors and canonical theologians are summoned for advice, many of whom express their reluctance to participate, recognizing the trial's wrongful nature amidst English soldiers patrolling outside.
Giovanna, the accused, is denied legal representation, which is standard in inquisition trials, as the process aims to elicit a confession of guilt rather than provide a defense.
During the trial, Giovanna is asked to swear on the Gospel to tell the truth without being informed of the charges against her, which is a procedural error; she cleverly responds that she cannot swear without knowing the questions.
Throughout the trial, Giovanna maintains her identity by refusing to dress as a woman, despite pressure from the judges, and she cleverly navigates their attempts to trap her with her responses.
The judges formulate charges against Giovanna, accusing her of witchcraft, heresy, and dressing as a man, which they claim violates divine and natural law.
The trial's goal is to force Giovanna to recant her beliefs, and although torture is considered, only three out of fifteen judges support the idea, leading to a decision against its use.
Ultimately, under immense pressure, Giovanna signs a confession, stating her visions were false and agreeing to never wear men's clothing again, despite the English authorities protesting the legitimacy of the trial.
After signing, she is sentenced to life imprisonment instead of execution, but shortly after, she is found dressed as a man again, leading to further complications with the English authorities, who are eager to maintain control over her fate.

01:07:07

Giovanna's Execution and a Dark Confession

On the 30th, a woman named Giovanna, sentenced to death for her relapse into heresy, is taken to a stake for execution despite the procedural irregularity of her receiving confession and communion, which should not have occurred due to her status as a heretic; as she is led to an unusually large pyre, many judges express regret over their decision, while the crowd reacts emotionally; once ignited, the fire quickly suffocates her due to the intense heat and lack of oxygen, leading to her immediate death; after confirming her death, the executioners rekindle the fire to burn her body and scatter her ashes; shortly after, the executioner confesses to a Dominican friar that he feels damned for carrying out the execution, and hints at the birth of a significant girl in 1431, promising to share more about her the following evening.

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