Capture of Joan of Arc
23 May 1430 saw the capture of Joan of Arc. Joan of Arc had rapidly risen to become a figurehead of the French fight against the English. Her prophecies had been proven and her presence had at times seemed to be decisive. In a short period of time, her leadership had turned around French fortunes. Of course, it was not quite as simple as that, but this is how it seemed to many.
Siege of Compiegne
At the Siege of Compiegne, in May 1430, the French talisman fell into the hands of Burgundian forces:
“Then the Maid [Joan of Arc], surpassing the nature of a woman, took on a great force, and took much pain to save her company from defeat, remaining behind as the leader and as the bravest of the troop. But there fortune permitted for the end of her glory and for the last time that she would ever carry arms. An archer, a rough and very sour man, full of much spite because a woman, who so much had been spoken about, should have defeated so many brave men, as she had done, grabbed the edge of her cloth-of-gold doublet, and threw her from her horse flat to the ground.” Georges Chastellain
Coup for the Burgundians
The capture of the Maid of Orleans was a major coup for the Burgundians. It had immediate political and military ramifications for all parties in the Hundred Years War.
The French leadership knew the value of Joan as a figurehead. She was an inspiration to the men going to war and to many of the commanders. With Joan in captivity, do they attempt to negotiate a ransom, risk attempting rescue missions, or accept her loss?
Burgundy was allied to England but was a domain within France. Having Joan in captivity therefore strengthened their hand diplomatically, both England and France were keen to take possession of Joan of Arc.
Transfer of Joan of Arc to the English
The English were eager to remove the imagery associated with Joan of Arc. A nation that believed a figurehead was heaven sent was a harder foe to defeat, if God were on the side of Joan, psychology told them that they could not lose. The image itself needed to be destroyed. And that is what the English eventually managed to negotiate with Burgundy. Possession of the prisoner was bought from Burgundy and Joan of Arc was placed on trial for the crime of heresy.
