Joan of Arc - 1 Hour History: Battles, Trial, & Zany Conspiracy Theories | Bedtime Sleep Stories about History (not A.I.)

0:01 [SPEAKER_01]: welcome to calm history. [SPEAKER_01]: I'm Harris, and this podcast is my quirky mix of education with sedation. [SPEAKER_01]: So go ahead, lean back, put up your feet, and allow some calm history to distract and relax your overactive brain squirrels. [SPEAKER_01]: the story of Joan of Arc.

0:33 [SPEAKER_01]: During the hundred years war between the French and the English, a young French peasant girl born in 1412 gained much fame. [SPEAKER_01]: Her name was Joan of Arc. [SPEAKER_01]: Her father may have accidentally planted the seed of her future in her head, by frequently telling her about the sad condition of France.

0:58 [SPEAKER_01]: He explained how the French population had not regained its former size since the black death of the mid-14th century, and how its merchants were isolated from foreign markets. [SPEAKER_01]: Additionally, nearly all the fighting of the Hundred Years War had taken place in France he explained to her.

1:20 [SPEAKER_01]: The major problem with this was that the English Army used scorched earth tactics, which further devastated the French economy. [SPEAKER_01]: She also learned that the King of France was so fearful of a total English victory that [SPEAKER_01]: Joan reflected on all of this and felt great pity for her country.

1:47 [SPEAKER_01]: She brooded over the matter so much that she began to have visions of angels. [SPEAKER_01]: She also heard strange voices, which said to her, [SPEAKER_01]: At last, these strange visions and voices made a believe that she had a mission from God, and she became more determined to try to save France.

2:14 [SPEAKER_01]: When she told her father and mother of her purpose, they tried to persuade her that the visions of angels and the voices were just dreams. [SPEAKER_01]: Joan held firm and replied, [SPEAKER_01]: The village priest, her young companions, even the governor of the town, all tried to stop her, but it was in vain.

2:43 [SPEAKER_01]: To the governor she said, I must do the work that I've been called to do. [SPEAKER_01]: people slowly began to believe in her mission. [SPEAKER_01]: At last, some wealthy supporters helped her to make the journey to the town of Shinan, where the French king Charles VII was living. [SPEAKER_01]: Before heading out, she would ask if she was going to travel through hostile territories [SPEAKER_01]: She hated the subtle advice, and agreed to switch to a soldier's outfit.

3:22 [SPEAKER_01]: This choice would later be used to support the charge of cross-dressing against her. [SPEAKER_01]: When Jonah arrived at Sinon, a force of French soldiers was preparing to go to the south of France, to relieve the city of Orleans, which the English were besieging [SPEAKER_01]: King Charles received Joan kindly and listened to what she had to say with the retention.

3:50 [SPEAKER_01]: Jones spoke modestly, but with a calm belief of her divine inspiration. [SPEAKER_01]: At this point in time, the French army had not achieved any major victories for a generation. [SPEAKER_01]: The King and his nobles talked the matter over, and finally it was decided to allow [SPEAKER_01]: Played Armor was commissioned for her, and she received a banner of her own design.

4:27 [SPEAKER_01]: A sword was brought for her from underneath the altar of a church in central France. [SPEAKER_01]: Let me pause to ask you a quick question. [SPEAKER_01]: Would you like to try to fall asleep to some gentle whispering? [SPEAKER_01]: If so, try my other podcast called Sleep Whispers. [SPEAKER_01]: Defined it, just search your podcast player for.

4:59 [SPEAKER_01]: You guessed it. [SPEAKER_01]: Sleep Whispers. [SPEAKER_01]: All right. [SPEAKER_01]: Back to the episode. [SPEAKER_01]: in April of 1429 at the age of 18 years, John let her soldiers from Shunan. [SPEAKER_01]: She was mounted on a powerful warhorse and clad in white armor from head to foot.

5:27 [SPEAKER_01]: In one hand, she carried her sword, and in the other hand, her own white banner embroidered with a little lace. [SPEAKER_01]: Her soldiers followed and guarded her with their full support. [SPEAKER_01]: Even before she joined the army, her presence created devotion and the hope of divine assistance.

5:49 [SPEAKER_01]: Her effect on morale was powerful, she inspired the whole army with courage and faith, as she talked about her visions. [SPEAKER_01]: Even the news of her coming may have encouraged the people of our [SPEAKER_01]: When she arrived at the besieged city of Orleans, she fearlessly rode round its walls while the English soldiers looked on in astonishment.

6:18 [SPEAKER_01]: She was able to enter Orleans despite the efforts of the besiegers to prevent her. [SPEAKER_01]: She aroused the city by her cheerful, confident words, and then let her soldiers forth to give [SPEAKER_01]: One, after another, the English forts were taken. [SPEAKER_01]: When all of the strongest remained, and Joan was leading the attacking force, she received a slight wound.

6:49 [SPEAKER_01]: Joan was carried out of the battle to be attended by a surgeon. [SPEAKER_01]: her soldiers began to retreat, wait, she commanded, eat and drink and rest. [SPEAKER_01]: For as soon as I recover, I will lead you back the fort, and you will fight with renewed vigor. [SPEAKER_01]: In a few minutes, she mounted her horse again, and rode rapidly up to the fort.

7:17 [SPEAKER_01]: This inspired [SPEAKER_01]: The very next day the enemy's troops were forced to withdraw from the city and the sea gendered. [SPEAKER_01]: The French soldiers were jubilant at the victory, and called Joan, the maid of our leans. [SPEAKER_01]: She led the French in several other battles, and again, and again, her troops were victorious.

7:52 [SPEAKER_01]: Then King Charles, urged by Joan, went to the Cathedral of Rims, with 12,000 soldiers, and there, with splendid ceremonies, was officially crowned King. [SPEAKER_01]: Joan, holding her white banner, stood near King Charles during the coronation. [SPEAKER_01]: However, the King urged her to stay a bit longer because France was not entirely freed from the English.

8:32 [SPEAKER_01]: Joan agreed, but she had lost her connection with heavenly voices, and along with it, her confidence to win battles. [SPEAKER_01]: She took part in an attack on the army of the Duke of Burgundy, and was taken prisoner. [SPEAKER_01]: The Duke delivered her into the hands of the English, who put her in prison.

8:55 [SPEAKER_01]: She lay in prison for a year, and finally was charged with sorcery and brought to trial. [SPEAKER_01]: Her trial was long, exhausting, and was a foregone conclusion before it began. [SPEAKER_01]: Charges against her were not clearly established, and she was not even read the charges until after her interrogations began.

9:21 [SPEAKER_01]: Joan was subjected to lengthy interrogations without any legal counsel, and there is evidence that some trial records were falsified. [SPEAKER_01]: In spite of all of this, witness is at the trial, warm pressed by her control, her prudence, and her poise. [SPEAKER_01]: In one exchange, she was asked if she knew she was in God's grace.

9:50 [SPEAKER_01]: The question was meant as a trap. [SPEAKER_01]: If she answered positively, she would be in violation of the church's doctrine, [SPEAKER_01]: if she answered negatively, then she would have confessed her own guilt. [SPEAKER_01]: Joan avoided the trap by stating that if she was not in God's grace, she hoped God would put her there, and if she was in God's grace, then she hoped she would remain so.

10:26 [SPEAKER_01]: Regardless of her best efforts, she was found guilty of heresy. [SPEAKER_01]: In 1431, at the age of 19 years, Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. [SPEAKER_01]: The English may have had a victory with her false trial, but everything [SPEAKER_01]: The English never recovered their momentum in the hundred years' war that they lost when Joan Oraliter country in soldiers.

11:01 [SPEAKER_01]: Also to Joan's wish, Charles VII retained his crown as King of France. [SPEAKER_01]: The English verdict of her trial also did not stand the test of time. [SPEAKER_01]: the depositions from about 115 witnesses were reviewed in the end the court declared that the original trial was unjust, malicious, slanderous, fraudulent, and deceitful.

11:41 [SPEAKER_01]: the process, findings, and consequences of the original trial were all declared nullified. [SPEAKER_01]: The stain on the name of Joan of Arc was ceremoniously erased when one of the copies of the articles of agitation against her was formally torn up. [SPEAKER_01]: Joan of Arc has become a semi-legendary figure, and to many, she is a hero and a saint.

12:16 [SPEAKER_01]: I think I did a very poor job of describing her first and most important battle. [SPEAKER_01]: Here's what I basically remember telling you. [SPEAKER_01]: Joan got on her horse. [SPEAKER_01]: and she won the Battle of Orleans. [SPEAKER_01]: What? [SPEAKER_01]: Huh? [SPEAKER_01]: Where are the details?

12:41 [SPEAKER_01]: What happened exactly? [SPEAKER_01]: Well, I may have explained it a little more than that, but whatever it was, it was meeker and unsatisfying to me. [SPEAKER_01]: But for my own curiosity, and possibly yours, [SPEAKER_01]: I want to know the details of our first big battle of our leans.

13:07 [SPEAKER_01]: In this episode, I'll begin by explaining the state of war that was occurring between France and England prior to Jones involvement, then I'll explain what was happening [SPEAKER_01]: and then I'll have Joan, ride in on her horse and you will finally get to hear the details of the Battle of Orleans.

13:41 [SPEAKER_00]: I hope you enjoy it. [SPEAKER_00]: Joan of Arc and the Battle of Orleans. [SPEAKER_01]: Seldom has the extinction of a nation's independence, appeared more inevitable than was the [SPEAKER_01]: a series of dreadful defeats, had thin the armies of France, and docked the spirits of our soldiers.

14:09 [SPEAKER_01]: Now, English armies occupied the fairest portions of our territory. [SPEAKER_01]: in the autumn of 1428, the English, who were already masters of Northern France, prepared their forces for the conquest of the southern provinces of France. [SPEAKER_01]: sitting between these northern and southern provinces of France was the city of Orleans.

14:41 [SPEAKER_01]: This city was looked upon as the last stronghold of the French national party. [SPEAKER_01]: If the English could once obtain possession of it, their victorious progress through the rest of the kingdom seemed free from any serious obstacle. [SPEAKER_01]: Accordingly, the Earl of Salith Berry, an English general, appeared with his army before its walls, on October 12, 1428.

15:15 [SPEAKER_01]: By October 23, he had captured a strategic point on a major river that overlooked the fortified walls of our lanes. [SPEAKER_01]: The French, however, broke down the part of the bridge, which was nearest to the north bank, and thus rendered a direct assault on the city impossible. [SPEAKER_01]: but the possession of this strategic point still enabled the English to control the fortified town greatly by cannon.

15:51 [SPEAKER_01]: The result was a siege. [SPEAKER_01]: The English sat in their position and attacked while the French hid behind their fortified walls. [SPEAKER_01]: in March, an army of French and Scots came to help the city of Orleans, but they were defeated by the English. [SPEAKER_01]: This victory for the English raised their spirits, and they envisioned that our [SPEAKER_01]: Even the city of Orleans thought they were mostly defeated, so they offered to surrender but under special terms.

16:45 [SPEAKER_01]: The English didn't like those terms, so they rejected the offered to surrender and continued their siege. [SPEAKER_01]: All looked like an easy victory. [SPEAKER_01]: However, about 50 miles away, or 62 km away, in a city south west of Orleans, Joan of Arc, was preparing her troops. [SPEAKER_01]: Initially, she had been inspired by divine calling to fight for her country.

17:22 [SPEAKER_01]: She wanted to reclaim the glory that France had lost to the English, and most importantly, she wanted to see Charles VII officially coronated as the king of France. [SPEAKER_01]: She was confident that the power of heaven would bring victory to her and to all of France. [SPEAKER_01]: She had a lance in her right hand, which she'd learned to wield with skill and grace.

18:00 [SPEAKER_01]: Her head was unhelmed and her hair was bound by a ribbon behind her back. [SPEAKER_01]: She wore at her side, a small bed of wax, and a consecrated sword, marked on the blade with five crosses. [SPEAKER_01]: a page carried her banner. [SPEAKER_01]: It was white satin and strewn with littleies.

18:25 [SPEAKER_01]: In future battles, Joan would carry her banner herself. [SPEAKER_01]: She said that though she loved her sword much, she loved her banner for the times as much, because it was a symbol and not a weapon. [SPEAKER_01]: She earned the admiration of the French soldiers by her confidence, the skill with which she managed her horse, and the easy grace with which she handled her weapons.

18:57 [SPEAKER_01]: Her military education had been short, but she had availed herself of it well. [SPEAKER_01]: Her tactics and action were simple enough, as she herself described it, quote, [SPEAKER_01]: I used to say to them, go boldly in among the English, and then I used to go boldly in myself, and quote, she left most of the military tactics to the veteran officers, but focused instead on moral discipline, no oath or foul language passed [SPEAKER_01]: Joan began the 50 mile march on April 26, 1429, and reached Orleans about two days later on the 28th.

19:55 [SPEAKER_01]: On the morning of April 29, Joan rode in solemn procession through the city, [SPEAKER_01]: She rode side by side with a military officer, and all the bravest nights of her army, and of the garrison followed behind. [SPEAKER_01]: The whole population thronged around her, men, women, and children strove to touch your garments, or her banner.

20:29 [SPEAKER_01]: They poured blessings on her, when they already considered their deliverer. [SPEAKER_01]: the people of Orleans, when they first saw her in their city, thought that it was an angel from heaven that had come down to save them. [SPEAKER_01]: Besides being called an angel, or the angel, she was also called the maid, a reference to her youthfulness, innocence, and virginity.

21:01 [SPEAKER_01]: when it was known by the English that the maid was in her leans. [SPEAKER_01]: Their minds were occupied about her, then were the minds of those in the city. [SPEAKER_01]: But it wasn't a very different spirit. [SPEAKER_01]: The English believed in her supernatural mission as firmly as the French did.

21:22 [SPEAKER_01]: But they thought she was a sorceress. [SPEAKER_01]: An old prophecy, which told that a damsel from Lorraine was to save France, had long been current, and it was known, and applied to Joan by foreigners as well as by the natives. [SPEAKER_01]: Four months, the English had heard of the coming made, and the tales of miracles, which [SPEAKER_01]: Tails had been listed to by the men of the English camp with anxious curiosity and secret awe.

22:06 [SPEAKER_01]: She had sent a messenger to the English generals before she marched for our lanes. [SPEAKER_01]: The messenger summoned the English generals to give up to the maid who was sent by heaven, the keys of the French cities, which they had wrongfully taken. [SPEAKER_01]: The messenger also told the English troops to depart to the homes, under peril, a being visited by the judgment of God.

22:36 [SPEAKER_01]: On her arrival in our leans, John sent another similar message, but the English scoffed it her from their towers and threatened to burn her messengers. [SPEAKER_01]: She was determined before she attacked the English to repeat the warning with her own voice. [SPEAKER_01]: Accordingly, she mounted one of the boulevard of the town, which was within hearing of the English.

23:06 [SPEAKER_01]: She spoke to the English and begged them to depart. [SPEAKER_01]: Sir William Gladstall, commander of the English troops, and another English officer, replied by bidding her to go home and tend to her cows. [SPEAKER_01]: Although the English leaders mocked her allowed, [SPEAKER_01]: The English usually charged fearlessly on any French who came within reach of their defensive structures.

23:50 [SPEAKER_01]: But when Joan and others marched out with some provisions and supplies for the town, the English stayed cowering behind their walls. [SPEAKER_01]: Thus far, she had prevailed without striking a blow. [SPEAKER_01]: But the time had come to test her courage amid the horrors of actual battle.

24:16 [SPEAKER_01]: It occurred later on the same day that she discarded the provisions into the city of Orleans. [SPEAKER_01]: Her military officer had attacked the English and a battlehead ensued. [SPEAKER_01]: kill was roused by a sound, which he believed to be that of her heavenly voices. [SPEAKER_01]: She called for her arms and horse, and quickly equipping herself, she mounted to right off to where the fight was raging.

24:48 [SPEAKER_01]: In her haste, she had forgotten her banner. [SPEAKER_01]: She rode back, and without dismounting, had it given to her from the window. [SPEAKER_01]: She then galloped to the location of the battle. [SPEAKER_01]: On a way, she met some of the wounded French, who had been carried back from the fight.

25:12 [SPEAKER_01]: She rode out of the gate and met the tide of her countrymen, who had been repulsed from the English fort, and were falling back to our lanes in confusion. [SPEAKER_01]: At the sight of the Holy Maid, and her banner, they rallied and renewed the assault. [SPEAKER_01]: Joan wrote forward at their head, waving her banner and cheering them on.

25:39 [SPEAKER_01]: The English were coiled at this effective charge by the French and many English were captured. [SPEAKER_01]: Several of these English defenders were put to the sword, except a few due to the requested mercy of Joan. [SPEAKER_01]: It was the first time that she'd ever seen a battlefield.

26:08 [SPEAKER_01]: She wept at the side of the violence and the sacrifice. [SPEAKER_01]: time for a quick sponsor break, or enjoy over 130 episodes without any breaks like this one by tapping the link in the episode notes and becoming a silk-pust member, it's free for limited time. [SPEAKER_01]: As you ponder that, here's the special message for this break.

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28:02 [SPEAKER_01]: We'll go V Clinical Study Information and Restrictions. [SPEAKER_01]: Visit hymns.com. [SPEAKER_01]: All right, back to the episode. [SPEAKER_01]: The next day was a sentient day, and it was passed by Joan and prayer. [SPEAKER_01]: But on the following day, it was resolved by the chiefs of the garrison to attack the English forts on the south of the river.

28:34 [SPEAKER_01]: They crossed the river and boats, and clashed in battle. [SPEAKER_01]: Joan was wounded in the heel, but the French did win, and many English were captured. [SPEAKER_01]: The English now only held one major diventa post that was on the south of the river, but that post was formatively strong.

29:01 [SPEAKER_01]: And by its command of the bridge, it was the key to the deliverance of our lanes. [SPEAKER_01]: It was known that a fresh English army was approaching to reinforce the besiegers. [SPEAKER_01]: the French were determined that they must defeat the current English troops before the reinforcements arrived.

29:26 [SPEAKER_01]: It was resolved therefore by the French to assail the English position at once. [SPEAKER_01]: This was to be done while the enthusiasm from the presence and the heroic [SPEAKER_01]: The English had a good defensive position and defensive structures. [SPEAKER_01]: They also had 500 archers and men at arms who were the very elite of the English army.

30:04 [SPEAKER_01]: On the morning of May 7th, some thousands of the best French troops in our lanes [SPEAKER_01]: they then cross the river in boats and assailed the English position with light hearts and heavy hands. [SPEAKER_01]: But once again, the English defended their structure well. [SPEAKER_01]: the maid, planted her banner in the ground, and jumped down into a ditch next to the wall of the English's defensive position.

30:43 [SPEAKER_01]: She placed the first ladder against the wall, and began to climb. [SPEAKER_01]: An English archer sent an arrow at her, which pierced her courselet, and wounded [SPEAKER_01]: she fell bleeding from the ladder. [SPEAKER_01]: The English jumped down from the wall to capture her, but her followers quickly dragged her off.

31:12 [SPEAKER_01]: She was carried to the rear and laid on the grass. [SPEAKER_01]: Her armor was taken off, and the English of her wound in the side of her blood made her [SPEAKER_01]: But her confidence in her divine mission soon returned. [SPEAKER_01]: Her patron saints seemed to stand before her and reassure her.

31:37 [SPEAKER_01]: She sat up and drew the arrow out with her own hands. [SPEAKER_01]: She had the wounds dressed with a little oil, and she said a little prayer. [SPEAKER_01]: The French commander was discouraged, and gave orders for retreat to be sounded. [SPEAKER_01]: Jones sent for him in the other generals, and implored them not to despair.

32:13 [SPEAKER_01]: By my God, she said to them, you shall soon enter in there. [SPEAKER_01]: Do not doubt it. [SPEAKER_01]: When you see my banner wave again up to the wall, take up your weapons, and the fort will be yours. [SPEAKER_01]: But for the present, rest a little, and take some food and drink. [SPEAKER_01]: And so the English commander troops followed her words.

32:40 [SPEAKER_01]: The faintness caused by her wound finally passed, and she led the French in another rush [SPEAKER_01]: The English, who had thought her slain, were alarmed at her reappearance, while the French pressed fiercely and fanatically forward. [SPEAKER_01]: A French soldier was carrying Joan's banner.

33:08 [SPEAKER_01]: She had told the troops that when her banner directly touches the wall, they should enter. [SPEAKER_01]: all the French swarmed madly up the ladders that were now raised in all directions against the English fort. [SPEAKER_01]: At this moment, the efforts of the English were distracted by an attack on another [SPEAKER_01]: The French troops, who had been left in our leans, had placed some planks over the broken part of the bridge.

33:48 [SPEAKER_01]: They then had advanced across them to assault the English fort on the northern side. [SPEAKER_01]: The English commander had switched his troops from the wall being attacked by Joan to [SPEAKER_01]: In a short time, Jonah and her troops had scaled the walls, and landed inside the English defensive position.

34:18 [SPEAKER_01]: Joan called out to the English commander who had recently mocked her. [SPEAKER_01]: Surrender, surrender to the king of heaven. [SPEAKER_01]: You have foully rocked me with your words, but I have great pity on your soul, and the [SPEAKER_01]: The English commander, Ignorter, and continued his way to the bridge with the other battlehead ensued.

34:45 [SPEAKER_01]: As it was crossing the bridge, he was hit by a cannon and perished in the water under the bridge. [SPEAKER_01]: After his fall, the rest of the English abandoned all further resistance. [SPEAKER_01]: three hundred English soldiers had been killed in the battle, and 200 were made prisoners.

35:13 [SPEAKER_01]: Joan made her triumphal re-entry into the city by the bridge that had so long been closed. [SPEAKER_01]: Every church in our lanes rang out in celebration [SPEAKER_01]: Throughout the night, the sounds are rejoicing echoed, and the bonfires placed up from the city. [SPEAKER_01]: But not every English troupe had been killed or captured.

35:40 [SPEAKER_01]: The English still retained a line of forts on the northern shore. [SPEAKER_01]: These English soldiers and generals have been watching the defeat with sick and hearts. [SPEAKER_01]: These men and smaller forts had been supplying the ammunition and other supplies to the main English fort.

36:03 [SPEAKER_01]: They didn't have enough soldiers to retake the city of Orleans, so a follow-up attack was out of the question. [SPEAKER_01]: It was clear to them that they would have to withdraw from these smaller forts, or risk [SPEAKER_01]: but a decision had to be made about what to do with the ammunition and supplies inside these forts.

36:33 [SPEAKER_01]: They couldn't retreat with them because that would slow them down. [SPEAKER_01]: It was decided that the smaller forts along with all their contents were to be burned and abandoned. [SPEAKER_01]: While doing so, the English soldiers formed groups outside, almost as if to challenge the French to come and attack them.

36:59 [SPEAKER_01]: The French troops were eager to go out on attack, but Joan forbade it. [SPEAKER_01]: The day was Sunday, May 8th. [SPEAKER_01]: In the name of God, she said, let them depart, and let us return thanks to God. [SPEAKER_01]: She led the soldiers and citizens, forth from more lanes, passing in solemn procession around the city walls.

37:28 [SPEAKER_01]: While the retreating English were still in sight, they knelt in thanks to God for keeping them safe and making them victorious. [SPEAKER_01]: Although they had suffered a setback and immense losses at our leans, the surrounding regions were still in their hands. [SPEAKER_01]: This meant that Joan and the French soldiers still had more work to do.

38:02 [SPEAKER_01]: About a month later, on June 11th and 12th, Joan participated in the first of several other battles to clear the English out of the surrounding regions of our leans. [SPEAKER_01]: The first one was in a small town in central France about 10 miles east of our leans. [SPEAKER_01]: The town had been conquered by the English a few years earlier, as a staging point for a planned invasion of southern France.

38:38 [SPEAKER_01]: It was defended by a wall with several towers and fortified gates. [SPEAKER_01]: A ditch, just on the outside of the walls, further enhanced the defenses. [SPEAKER_01]: In this battle, the English had 700 troops, against 1200 French troops. [SPEAKER_01]: The battle began with a French assault on the English who were entrenched within the local city walls.

39:14 [SPEAKER_01]: English defenders left the city walls to attack in the French fell back. [SPEAKER_01]: The English retreated back to the city walls, and the French lodged in the nearby suburbs for the night. [SPEAKER_01]: The following morning, Joan of Art called on the English defenders to surrender. [SPEAKER_01]: They refused.

39:45 [SPEAKER_01]: The French followed with heavy artillery bombardment, using cannons and sea-genctions. [SPEAKER_01]: Joan of Arc initiated an assault on the town walls, surviving a stone projectile that split in two against her helmet as she climbed a scaling ladder. [SPEAKER_01]: The English finally surrendered as they couldn't defeat the overwhelming force of the French.

40:17 [SPEAKER_01]: The French had light losses of the 1200 troops, but the English lost about half of their initial 700 soldiers. [SPEAKER_01]: The next battle was only a couple days later, on June 15, 1429. [SPEAKER_01]: This battle occurred in another small town in central France, but this one was just slightly [SPEAKER_01]: similar to the other town.

40:49 [SPEAKER_01]: This town also was captured by the English a few years earlier to serve as a staging point for a planned invasion of southern France. [SPEAKER_01]: The English defenses in this town consisted of the wall town, the fortification at a bridge, [SPEAKER_01]: the castle served as headquarters to the English command.

41:21 [SPEAKER_01]: It is estimated the French army had about 6,000 participants, but this probably included non-soldiers. [SPEAKER_01]: The French simply just bypassed the city in the castle and staged a frontal assault on the bridge fortifications. [SPEAKER_01]: They conquered the English in one day. [SPEAKER_01]: Jones' third battle occurred the next days on June 16th and 17th, in another nearby small town.

41:59 [SPEAKER_01]: Unlike the prior battle, the main stronghold of the English was inside the city walls. [SPEAKER_01]: During the first day of fighting, the English abandoned the town and retreated into the castle. [SPEAKER_01]: The French bombarded the castle with artillery fire. [SPEAKER_01]: The French negotiated an English surrender and granted them safe passage out of the town.

42:36 [SPEAKER_01]: But this battle wasn't in a small town. [SPEAKER_01]: Rather, it was in an open field. [SPEAKER_01]: The French heard that there was an English reinforcement army nearby. [SPEAKER_01]: The French, however, were not confident that they could defeat a fully prepared English army in an open field.

43:00 [SPEAKER_01]: so they scouted the area, hoping to find the English Army unprepared and vulnerable. [SPEAKER_01]: As the French were scouting the area, they heard a hunting cry. [SPEAKER_01]: It turned out that there were English archers nearby who yelled out the hunting cry when a stab walked by. [SPEAKER_01]: so as they hoped, the French found the English army before they had a chance to fully prepare.

43:40 [SPEAKER_01]: The English didn't have time to prepare, their standard defensive tactics of the long moment. [SPEAKER_01]: Usually, these English archers would drive pointed stakes into the ground near their positions. [SPEAKER_01]: This prevented cavalry charges and slowed infantry long enough for the long bows to take a decisive toll on the enemy line.

44:09 [SPEAKER_01]: However, the English would be without this usual advantage. [SPEAKER_01]: the battle swiftly turned into a route. [SPEAKER_01]: Every English soldier on a horse cut away, but the longbowmen were cut down in droves. [SPEAKER_01]: Joan was once again victorious, but one of her next biggest priorities was having Charles [SPEAKER_01]: After some additional battles, in two months after her victory in our leans, she finally got her wish.

45:04 [SPEAKER_01]: On July 17, 1429, Joan was a corded-a-place of honor at the Coronation ceremony of Charles [SPEAKER_01]: And now, I'll wrap up this Joan of Arc trilogy with a little silliness. [SPEAKER_01]: Joan of Arc and conspiracy theories. [SPEAKER_01]: The history of Joan of Arc seems pretty straightforward.

45:44 [SPEAKER_01]: She started life in France as a simple and devout country gal, just milk and cows and [SPEAKER_01]: until one day, the king of France gives her an army and says, we are not doing so well in our war against England. [SPEAKER_01]: Can you pitch in? [SPEAKER_01]: Joan of Arc, then defeats every English army.

46:16 [SPEAKER_01]: With an old sword, she found in the basement of a building. [SPEAKER_01]: Okay, I've clearly embellished and exaggerated some aspects of her story. [SPEAKER_01]: But the point is, some people find her incredible story to be, well, not credible. [SPEAKER_01]: This has resulted in a bunch of revisionistic theories.

46:44 [SPEAKER_01]: or you can call them conspiracy theories if you prefer or perhaps what you are about to hear is just some juicy hot goss about a historical celebrity call it whatever you like but I'm going to share two wild theories about Joan of Arc you're free to hear them [SPEAKER_01]: I won't influence you in any way to believe them or to not believe them.

47:23 [SPEAKER_01]: Okay, let's begin. [SPEAKER_01]: Here is the first crazy bonkers wacky-doodle theory that no one should believe. [SPEAKER_01]: Here we go. [SPEAKER_01]: Some people believe that Joan of Arc was not some unknown country girl, but rather she was the illegitimate daughter of royalty. [SPEAKER_01]: And this is why Charles VII, the King of France, paid her any attention.

47:58 [SPEAKER_01]: Now, this theory goes back to 1805. [SPEAKER_01]: It's attributed to some guy named Pierre Case. [SPEAKER_01]: This guy's last name, Case is spelled C-A-Z-E. [SPEAKER_01]: And yes, that's one letter away from craze, C-R-A-Z-E. And if his last name is actually pronounced, K-Z, then feel fruitistic and are in there.

48:38 [SPEAKER_01]: And call him, say it with me. [SPEAKER_01]: crazy. [SPEAKER_01]: Anyway, Pierre Casey claimed the sword in Jones Code of Arms was a symbol of illegitimacy. [SPEAKER_01]: I'm not sure if he was saying that the symbol was literally some ancient code for being an illegitimate child. [SPEAKER_01]: Or, if he was just pointing to her coat of arms and spouting loose rhetoric and wild accusations, regardless.

49:20 [SPEAKER_01]: Pierre Casey didn't just speak these claims. [SPEAKER_01]: He printed them in a document titled The Truths about Joan of Arc. [SPEAKER_01]: You can think of this document as an early tabloid, you know, like [SPEAKER_01]: way back in the 19th century. [SPEAKER_01]: In this document, he claimed that Joan was the illegitimate daughter of Isabelle, the queen of France, and Louis the Duke of Orleans.

50:02 [SPEAKER_01]: So who were these royal people? [SPEAKER_01]: Isabelle became the queen of France in 1385 by marrying King Charles VI. [SPEAKER_01]: Louis, the Duke of Orleans, was the younger brother of King Charles VI. [SPEAKER_01]: Do you see where this is going? [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, Isabelle's husband, King Charles VI, has a hot younger brother, and that is Louis, the Duke of Orleans.

50:40 [SPEAKER_01]: Not only that, but Isabelle's husband, the King, struggles with a lot of mental health challenges. [SPEAKER_01]: and guess who that was? [SPEAKER_01]: Yep, Louie, the Duke of Orleans, her husband's hot younger brother, okay. [SPEAKER_01]: So you can see that there is enough of a relationship between Queen Isabelle and Duke Louie for rumors to get started.

51:23 [SPEAKER_01]: And sure enough, that guy, Pierre-Case, is happy to publish some of his own ideas in his document, the truth about Joan of Arc. [SPEAKER_01]: Pierre-Casey proposes that Isabelle and Louis had an illegitimate child, named her Joan, [SPEAKER_01]: Now, here it's something that sort of supports that possibility.

52:01 [SPEAKER_01]: Queen Isabelle, and her husband King Charles VI, had several legitimate children, several boys and girls. [SPEAKER_01]: yeah, she named two of them, Joan. [SPEAKER_01]: So this was clearly a woman who loved the name, Joan. [SPEAKER_01]: That is pretty weak evidence, but it is rather curious.

52:40 [SPEAKER_01]: Alright, back to Pierre-Case's theory. [SPEAKER_01]: If Joan of Arc was the offspring of those specific royal individuals, then that would make her the half-sister of Charles VII, who was the next king. [SPEAKER_01]: And it was Charles VII who gave her an army to lead during the hundred years war.

53:08 [SPEAKER_01]: So, Joan of Arc probably just sent the King a note that maybe said something like this. [SPEAKER_01]: Hey, bro, have the war going against the English. [SPEAKER_01]: Anything I can do to help? [SPEAKER_01]: I'm pretty free right now. [SPEAKER_01]: I'm just milking cows and bailing some hay.

53:32 [SPEAKER_01]: But I sure would love to lead Narmee. [SPEAKER_01]: I certainly can't do any worse than your current general's. [SPEAKER_01]: L-O-L-O-L-Love-Sith. [SPEAKER_01]: So, yeah, all that sounds possible. [SPEAKER_01]: There is just one key problem with this theory. [SPEAKER_01]: It is likely that her supposed royal father, the Duke of Orleans, died several years before her actual year of birth.

54:11 [SPEAKER_01]: Oh well, so much for that theory. [SPEAKER_01]: Let's move on. [SPEAKER_01]: Here is the second, crazy bonkers, wacky doodles theory that no one should believe. [SPEAKER_01]: Joan of Arc was never executed in 1431. [SPEAKER_01]: The evidence for her survival is pretty straightforward. [SPEAKER_01]: Several years after her execution, she appeared in public and said, [SPEAKER_01]: But who did we seek a burned at the stake then?

55:04 [SPEAKER_01]: She replied, Oh, just some nobody. [SPEAKER_01]: Let's not dwell on the boring details. [SPEAKER_01]: I'm here now, and that's what counts. [SPEAKER_01]: Did you miss me? [SPEAKER_01]: Well, I don't know exactly what she said, but she tried to explain to everyone [SPEAKER_01]: Like Joan 1.0, this woman also had short hair, warm and clothing, and most importantly, she truly looked like Joan of Arc.

55:42 [SPEAKER_01]: Some people were still doubtful, of course, and mumble things like, she said she is Joan of Arc, but can she ride a horse like good old Joan? [SPEAKER_01]: Well, Joan Tuponou jumped on a horse and wrote it like a champ. [SPEAKER_01]: The next big test was to meet Joan's family. [SPEAKER_01]: In 1436, Joan Tuponou went and spent time with her two brothers and sure enough they [SPEAKER_01]: for miracles, is something they may, or may not have yelled in the town square.

56:31 [SPEAKER_01]: For the next several years, Joan and her brothers visited towns throughout France. [SPEAKER_01]: Many people celebrated their resurrected Joan, and shouard her with gifts. [SPEAKER_01]: Money, fancy dinners, and special privileges. [SPEAKER_01]: During these happy times, she even married a night and bore him two sons.

56:57 [SPEAKER_01]: All was going quite smoothly for Joan to point out, although there were a few strange things about her. [SPEAKER_01]: Unlike Joan one point out, this woman sometimes enjoyed fancy clothes, drinking and performing [SPEAKER_01]: and then things went full sour. [SPEAKER_01]: In 1439 she went to Orleans to be publicly celebrated with a special dinner and to be praised with gifts, but she left the dinner early and it may have been to avoid the tailor who [SPEAKER_01]: Perhaps she heard this man had some doubts, and was getting vocal about them.

57:50 [SPEAKER_01]: A few months later King Charles VII called for her. [SPEAKER_01]: The King had spent lots of time with Joan 1.0 of course, but he hadn't yet met Joan 2.0. [SPEAKER_01]: So he was appropriately suspicious. [SPEAKER_01]: the first test, involved her being able to recognize him, instead of an imposter king, he had in the room.

58:26 [SPEAKER_01]: She passed this first test, and it may have been because she knew some details about the real king that helped her. [SPEAKER_01]: But then the king asked her what their secret [SPEAKER_01]: This sign is so secret that historians today don't even know what it was, and in 1439 neither did Joan to Poinau.

58:57 [SPEAKER_01]: Fearing an extreme punishment if she continued the ruse, she confessed to not being a real Joan of Arc. [SPEAKER_01]: So who was this woman? [SPEAKER_01]: her real name was Jean, or Claude, almost a, a year before she started pretending to be Joan of Arc, she'd been posing as a male soldier in an army.

59:27 [SPEAKER_01]: So how did she trick Joan of Arc's brothers into believing her? [SPEAKER_01]: Well, maybe she didn't, perhaps the brothers felt that their resurrected, living spirit of Joan of Arc, would bring France great joy and inspiration, so they did it for the benefit of the country. [SPEAKER_01]: Or maybe they wanted to cash in on all the fame, glory, gifts, money, privileges, and fancy dinners they could get by parading around with her, which they certainly did.

1:00:15 [SPEAKER_01]: So, was Joan 2.0, burned at the stake, again, for her big scam? [SPEAKER_01]: No, she was never punished by the king. [SPEAKER_01]: What about her marriage? [SPEAKER_01]: Joan 2.0 stayed married to the same man as before. [SPEAKER_01]: Perhaps she had confided in him. [SPEAKER_01]: Or perhaps he was too embarrassed to separate from her.

1:00:47 [SPEAKER_01]: And I know you are wondering, did her husband keep calling her Joan? [SPEAKER_01]: Did he start calling her by her real name? [SPEAKER_01]: Did he throw out the sign he'd put on the house that read? [SPEAKER_01]: Welcome to the home of Joan of Arc and some other guy. [SPEAKER_01]: I don't know, but look at you, leaning into this hot-goss story from history.

1:01:17 [SPEAKER_01]: Now what about the real brothers of Joan of Arc, where they ever punished for perpetuating the lie? [SPEAKER_01]: No. [SPEAKER_01]: The king never punished them either, but one of the brothers, named Pierre, is being punished today in a different way. [SPEAKER_01]: Half of the Wikipedia page about Pierre, the brother of Joan of Arc, is about his fakes sister, so his Wikipedia page is mostly dedicated to highlighting one of two possible points.

1:01:57 [SPEAKER_01]: that he was part of perpetuating a major historical scam, or that he was a dumb dumb, for not being able to recognize his own sister. [SPEAKER_01]: Poor guy. [SPEAKER_01]: History isn't always recorded in kind [SPEAKER_01]: This is the end of the episode to enjoy over 130 more episodes of calm history and without any ads or breaks, then just become a so-plus member.

1:02:38 [SPEAKER_01]: It's free for limited time. [SPEAKER_01]: If interested, tap the link in the episode notes or go to calmhistory.com.