Joan of Arc and the Siege of Orléans: France's Turning Point

In 1428, during the Hundred Years' War, the English siege of Orléans threatened to extinguish French sovereignty. Enter Joan of Arc, a teenage peasant who claimed divine guidance. This episode recounts the dramatic relief of Orléans, the coronation of Charles VII at Reims, Joan's capture and trial, and her enduring legacy as a symbol of French national identity. We explore how the fleur-de-lis of her banner contrasts with the revolutionary tricolour that would later supplant it, and how Joan's story has been claimed by monarchists and republicans alike. Specific names and events: the English commander the Duke of Bedford, the French captain Jean de Dunois, the Burgundian capture at Compiègne, the rigged trial in Rouen, and Joan's canonisation in 1920. A deep dive into a foundational moment that shaped France's sense of itself. #History #FexingoHistory #JoanOfArc #HundredYearsWar #SiegeOfOrleans #CharlesVII #FleurDeLis #FrenchHistory #MedievalHistory #MilitaryHistory #SaintJoan #FrenchMonarchy #NationalIdentity #Tricolour #Revolution #Orleans #Domremy #HeresyTrial Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo