The French call her Jeanne d'Arc and all French students learn that in 1429 this undeducated farm girl from Lorraine heard the voice of God telling her to go see the King of France (Charles VII). She urged him to give her troops in order to retake the French territories that had been under English dominance for years. According to legend, she disguised herself as a man and lifted the siege in nine days. Many historians say that the story is totally false but she became a true heroine in France at age 17.
On May 30, 1431, the English had her burned at the stake in Rouen’s market square after a politically-motivated trial convicted her of heresy and witchcraft. She was only 19 years old. When Pope Callixtus III reopened her case 25 years later, her piousness even at the stake impressed the court and they overturned the original conviction. She was canonized in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV.
I have been trying to get a decent picture of her but she is elusive. She has an impressive golden-colored statue in place des Pyramides (off rue de Rivoli) sculpted by Frenchman, Emmanuel Fremiet, who was the leading sculpture of animals in his day. Interestingly enough, the model for this most prominent statue (1874) was a 14-year-old girl (Jeanne Valerie Laneau) born at the same place and on the same date of the year as Joan. She died at the age of 77, accidently burnt, on the same date of the year as Joan.
I have been trying to get a decent picture of her but she is elusive. She has an impressive golden-colored statue in place des Pyramides (off rue de Rivoli) sculpted by Frenchman, Emmanuel Fremiet, who was the leading sculpture of animals in his day. Interestingly enough, the model for this most prominent statue (1874) was a 14-year-old girl (Jeanne Valerie Laneau) born at the same place and on the same date of the year as Joan. She died at the age of 77, accidently burnt, on the same date of the year as Joan.
Of course I saw other statues of Joan in or in front of most 
Catholic churches: Saint-Augustin church, Saint-Sulpice, Madeleine, Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois, Notre-Dame, etc. Whether the legend is false or not, the French love her.
Catholic churches: Saint-Augustin church, Saint-Sulpice, Madeleine, Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois, Notre-Dame, etc. Whether the legend is false or not, the French love her.PS - She also became known as the "Maid of Orleans" after the site of one of her victories. This photo was taken in Notre-Dame.
