10 amazing things about Joan of Arc (and her mysteries).

1️⃣ What voices did Joan of Arc hear?

Jeanne in her father's garden / image selected by monsieurdefrance.com: By Jules Bastien-Lepage — Metropolitan Museum of Art, online collection (Metropolitan Museum of Art ID 435621), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=94602

First, note that Joan was very devout from childhood. She was so devout that she prayed very often, to the point that children her age made fun of her—even though the Middle Ages were a time steeped in religion. It was at the age of 13 that Joan first heard the "voices." She would always refer to them that way. During her trial, she recounted that she was very afraid at first, before being reassured. She claimed that these voices, which echoed in her head, were those of 

• Saint Michael the Archangel
• Saint Catherine
• Saint Margaret

According to Joan, these voices gave her a clear mission: to liberate France and have the king crowned.

Saint Michael watches over Mont Saint-Michel, the only French stronghold facing the English north of the Loire / Image selected by Monsieur de France: By the Limbourg Brothers (Herman, Paul, and Jean), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=109071

👉 The mystery: Some historians suggest a genuine mystical experience, while others speak of hallucinations, or even a political fabrication exploited by those around her. Schizophrenia is also mentioned. Everyone will form their own opinion, but what has always struck those around her—and particularly the clergy who questioned her, whether during the trial or when she was presented to the Dauphin—is the consistency of her account. It never changes. In other words, wherever the voices came from, Joan was not lying when she recounted what they told her. 

Where to stay in Domrémy-la-Pucelle while following in the footsteps of Joan of Arc?

If you visit Domrémy-la-Pucelle, the birthplace of Joan of Arc, you’ll want to choose accommodations that let you enjoy the peace and quiet and the atmosphere steeped in history. You can visit Joan’s birthplace, the Basilica of Bois-Chenu, and the Meuse landscapes surrounding this iconic site. Domrémy is a small village, so it’s often a good idea to stay nearby, particularly in the Neufchâteau area or the surrounding region for more options.

👉 The most convenient option is to choose accommodations near Domrémy or in a nearby town like Neufchâteau so you can easily explore the area.

The Basilica of Bois Chenu, one of the sites of Joan of Arc's visions / Photo selected by Monsieur de France by OT ouest Vosges — Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42798008

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2️⃣ What did Joan of Arc look like? Did she have long hair?

The only "portrait" of Jeanne taken during her lifetime. Image selected by Monsieur de France: By Clément de Fauquembergue — Uploaded from nl.wikipedia to Commons by Koektrommel using CommonsHelper., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8778514

The popular image depicts Joan with short hair, a bowl cut, and wearing armor. Yet she probably didn’t look like that at all. It’s a fairly recent construct. In fact, we have no images of Joan at all. We only have a sketch drawn by someone who saw her and sketched her appearance on a piece of parchment. In this drawing, she has long hair that falls down her back. Two statues provide further insight: the one at Joan of Arc’s birthplace in Domrémy-la-Pucelle in the Vosges, and the one at Toul Cathedral. In Toul, we see a somewhat stocky Joan, with large hands and long hair. She eventually cut it off because it was impractical for her. This, incidentally, contributed to her condemnation, since she also wore men’s clothing, which was more practical for galloping. It was strictly forbidden and even condemned by the Church. Even in the 20th century, it was forbidden for a woman to dress like a man in France—particularly to wear pants—so you can imagine the scandal in the 15th century. The original statue was made a few years after her death, and people remembered her; that’s why it seems the most reliable. And it also makes perfect sense. To stay on a half-ton horse—as warhorses were back then—she had to be pretty sturdy. 

👉 Mystery: Was his image altered after his death to reinforce the legend?

3️⃣ Could Joan of Arc read and write?

Not at all! Even though she came from a fairly well-off farming family, she never learned to read or write. Every time she signed a document or a letter—and even during her trial—she drew a cross. It must be said that there was absolutely no reason for a “maiden”—that is, an unmarried young woman, and a peasant at that—to learn to read. She was destined to spin wool, tend the vegetable garden, and raise children. Writing was the privilege of the clergy and thus, in the vast majority of cases, of religious figures. Moreover, her name was probably not d’Arc, but d’Art, or even Romée, since custom dictated that a young girl take her mother’s name, and Jeanne’s mother was named Isabelle Romée. She always introduced herself as "Jeanne la Pucelle." It was only later that she came to be called Jeanne d'Arc, taking her father's name, which was actually d'Art. Surnames were by no means fixed at the time. 

Joan as imagined in the 19th century / By Albert Lynch — [1], Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=171159064

The fact that she couldn't write shouldn't be used to judge her intelligence. She was brilliant. During her trial, she impressed and annoyed the judges because she answered logically and firmly, throwing them off balance. Notably, when they asked her if she knew whether she was in God’s grace, she replied “If I am not, may God put me there; and if I am, may God keep me there.” 

👉 Mystery: How could an illiterate young girl display such confidence?

4️⃣ Did Joan of Arc have an accent?

Joan was born in Domrémy, and Domrémy was a French town surrounded by Lorraine territory. In fact, she probably didn’t speak the same French as elsewhere in France, since the accents were so different—almost like different languages. This is one of the things that intrigues historians because a somewhat purer form of French was spoken by the nobility. What is certain is that the eastern accent, more specifically the Lorraine accent, was the one spoken by those around her, and it can be found in the transcriptions of the letters she dictated. It’s quite amusing. The clerk wrote like a modern-day stenographer, in other words, exactly what he heard. And there are several letters in which the D is transcribed as a T and then crossed out to become a D again. Basically, she had a somewhat Germanic accent, similar to the Alsatian accent today.

👉 Mystery: How did a young woman with a rural accent win over the elite?

5️⃣ How did Joan of Arc convince Charles VII?

Joan of Arc is presented to Charles VII/ By Anonymous — This image is from the Gallica online library under the ARK identifier btv1b105380390/f122, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5833351

This is one of the greatest mysteries. When Joan was received by the future king at Chinon, she recognized him immediately, even though she had never seen him before and he was dressed as a simple courtier, sitting on no throne, so that he could see Joan as everyone else did before speaking to her. We also know that she whispered a sentence in his ear, which he never repeated, nor did she. Perhaps it was something to reassure him about his lineage, since he was being attacked by his own mother over the fact that Charles VI was his father, and thus his claim to the French throne was being contested.  In any case, she must have been very convincing, because he still entrusted her with an escort and let her go to help Orléans before entrusting her with a small army. 

👉 Mystery: exceptional charisma, political intuition, or just a show?

6️⃣ Was Joan of Arc really a military leader?

Yes and no. She didn't fight much herself, but that's to be expected. It took years of practice and training to fight with a sword. The armor was extremely heavy. But she played a real role in the sense that she provided the impetus. She also possessed a certain military genius, as she literally broke the siege of Orléans by ordering an attack on a difficult spot that no one else wanted to attack for fear of failing. She was also sometimes wrong, for example when she wanted to besiege Paris even though the English army held the capital and could easily withstand the assault. She was actually wounded that day, by an arrow in the thigh, as she tried to climb a ladder up against the Parisian ramparts. 

👉 Mystery: Military heroine or inspirational figure?

Joan of Arc during the Siege of Paris / Image selected by Monsieur de France: By Anonymous — This image comes from the Gallica online library under the identifier ARK btv1b105380390/f144, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16973390

7️⃣ Was Joan of Arc’s trial rigged?

After being captured, Joan was tried in Rouen in 1431, and yes, of course it was a sham trial. Taken prisoner, Joan was handed over to the English, who imprisoned her and had her tried in Rouen by a tribunal presided over by Pierre CAUCHON, Bishop of Roubaix, who was in their pay. He did everything he could to have Joan convicted but also to spare her life. He succeeded the first time, in fact, and she was merely imprisoned. But the English wanted her dead, and faced with the guards’ assaults, Joan, who had promised to wear women’s clothing, decided to wear men’s clothing to protect herself. Cauchon is forced to acknowledge that she has broken her word, and she is sentenced to death as a heretic. This is exactly what the English need, as they want Jeanne to be a witch; for if she is not, and her words come from God, then they are against God. 

👉 Mystery: Religious Justice or Political Trial?

8️⃣ Was Joan of Arc really burned at the stake?

Officially, yes. She was executedon May 30, 1431, in the Place du Vieux-Marché in Rouen, following a religious trial heavily influenced by the English. Declared a heretic and a relapsed heretic (that is, having fallen back into error after an initial abjuration), the stake was her inevitable fate. Barely 19 years old, she was led out of her cell dressed in a prisoner’s robe.  Her body was burned in public. Led to the stake, she asked a soldier for a cross. The English soldier fashioned one in a few quick motions from branches of the pyre and placed it in her hands, which were bound in front of her. One must not imagine her standing on a pile of wood; she was in fact lying in a pile of wood that rose up to her chest. The fire is lit, and several witnesses say that she cries out the name of Jesus several times before dying, suffocated by the smoke rather than burned, incidentally. To prevent any veneration, her body is burned a second time, and her ashes are thrown into the Seine.

But… the people of Rouen could barely see Joan, who was surrounded by numerous soldiers to prevent any attempt to help her. She was also barely visible at the stake. Some journalists and a few historians claim that she could have been replaced by someone else and that no one would have noticed. Basically, Joan would not have died that day in Rouen. It is a theory that does not hold up well against the facts, but it continues to spark debate. 

👉 Mystery: historical truth or a myth perpetuated?

Joan at the Stake / image selected by Monsieur de France: By Anonymous — This image comes from the Gallica online library under the ARK identifier btv1b105380390/f153, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5833377

Where to stay in Rouen while following in the footsteps of Joan of Arc?

Rouen Cathedral. Photo selected by monsieurdefrance.com: Leonid_Andronov via Depositphotos.

If you’re visiting Rouen to follow in the footsteps of Joan of Arc, choosing the right accommodation is key to fully immersing yourself in the history. By staying in the historic center, you can easily reach the Place du Vieux-Marché where she was executed, the Church of Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc, Rouen Cathedral, and the medieval streets that still tell the story of her time here. Rouen is a compact city, ideal for exploring everything on foot and immersing yourself in the atmosphere of the Middle Ages.

👉 The most convenient option is to stay in the city center, just a few minutes away from the main sites associated with Joan of Arc.

To compare availability and prices for your dates:

• See available accommodations in Rouen during your stay ↗

• Find a hotel in Rouen's historic center ↗

• Choose accommodations near sites associated with Joan of Arc ↗

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9️⃣ Who was Jeanne des Armoises?

1440. In the dim light of the throne room, a woman is staking her life. Jeanne des Armoises claims to be the Maid, the one believed to have died in Rouen nine years earlier. For Charles VII, the doubt is unbearable: does this woman know the secret of Chinon? Since 1436, however, the miracle has seemed real. In Metz, her brothers recognize her. In Orléans, the inhabitants cheer their savior and even halt the funeral ceremonies to grant her a pension. Gilles de Rais, her faithful comrade-in-arms, believes in it wholeheartedly. Jeanne des Armoises tells an impossible story: she claims she was replaced at the stake at the last moment. But in the presence of the King, the mask slips. When faced with the fateful question, she remains silent, weeps, and confesses to the deception. Exiled, she will spend her final days at the Château de Jaulny, between Nancy and Metz, where her portrait still hangs. What is troubling, however, is that when Jeanne was beatified in 1909, the tomb of Jeanne des Armoises, which was located in the church of Pulligny, near Nancy, was emptied by the parish priest, who is said to have buried the remains a little further away so that they would not be found. She was seen praying at that spot on several occasions. 

👉 Mystery: Was she simply an adventuress, or the King’s secret half-sister, the product of Isabeau of Bavaria’s love affair? The mystery of “Jeanne Lorraine” continues to haunt history. 

🔟 Why was Joan of Arc canonized?

Joan of Arc’s fate is almost unique in history. When she died in 1431, burned at the stake in Rouen, she was condemned as a heretic and portrayed as a dangerous figure, exploited by her enemies to weaken King Charles VII. Yet, barely twenty-five years later, in 1456, a new trial was initiated by the Church—which thus contradicted itself—and it completely overturned this image: her conviction was annulled, and she was officially recognized as innocent. This spectacular reversal marked the beginning of a gradual transformation of her legacy.

Over the centuries, Joan of Arc’s image has evolved. She first became a national heroine, a symbol of courage and the revival of the Kingdom of France during one of the most difficult periods in its history. But she was also a deeply spiritual figure: her faith, her obedience to what she considered a divine mission, and her tragic fate made her a powerful religious symbol, leading to her canonization in 1920.

👉 Mystery: Why is she the only one who is both a saint for the Church and Catholics and a completely secular national heroine for French non-believers?

Saint Joan of Arc at the coronation of King Charles VII/ Image selected by Monsieur de France: By Jean-Auguste Dominique Ingres — cartelfr.louvre.fr, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3876400

Why Joan of Arc Still Fascinates People Today

Today, Joan of Arc is the most famous Frenchwoman in the world. She is known everywhere.  Joan of Arc continues to fascinate because she defies simple categorization. At once a young peasant girl and a central figure in French history, a devout believer haunted by voices and a key player in a major political destiny, she embodies contradictions that still intrigue us today. How could an uneducated teenager from a village in Lorraine convince a king, lead soldiers, and alter the course of the Hundred Years’ War? This question alone is enough to fuel the mystery.

Her story is also moving because of its profoundly human dimension. Behind the icon lies a 19-year-old girl faced with monumental decisions, war, and then a grueling trial in which she had to defend herself alone against seasoned judges. Her courage, faith, and determination still resonate with everyone, far beyond the historical context.

But Joan of Arc also fascinates because she remains, in part, elusive. Her voices, her exact role in battle, the circumstances of her trial, and the way her image has been shaped over the centuries all leave room for different interpretations. She is at once a national heroine, a religious figure, and a political symbol, which allows each era to claim her as its own.

It is undoubtedly this unique blend—of historical certainties and areas of uncertainty—that explains why Joan of Arc continues to fascinate. More than five centuries after her death, her story continues to be told, examined, and rediscovered.

Joan during the Siege of Paris / By Jules-Eugène Lenepveu — [3], Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=803067

Abstract

Joan of Arc remains an exceptional figure in French history. Behind her extraordinary fate lie many mysteries: her voices, her appearance, her upbringing, her accent, her military role, her trial, and even her death. These are all questions that continue to fuel her legend to this day. For us French people, she is a symbol of determination and patriotism. She is proof that even the poorest can change the course of history. 

If you're interested in French history, here's everything I have to offer today.

Jérôme Prod'homme Expert in French heritage, gastronomy, and tourism. Find all my discoveries at monsieur-de-france.com.

FAQ: Joan of Arc

What was Joan of Arc's real name? 

During her lifetime, she never called herself "Joan of Arc." She introduced herself as Joan the Maid. The name "d'Arc" (or sometimes d'Art) was only established by historians long after her death. In fact, she signed her rare letters with a simple cross.

Could Joan of Arc read and write?

No, Joan of Arc was illiterate. She often signed her name with a cross and had not received a formal education.

Did Joan of Arc have long hair?

Yes, she had long hair when she was younger. She later cut it short to adopt a masculine appearance.

Did Joan of Arc speak with an accent?

Yes, she spoke with a strong Lorraine accent, very different from standard French.

Was Joan of Arc really burned at the stake?

Officially, yes, in 1431 in Rouen. But certain theories cast doubt on the exact circumstances. It is one of history’s greatest mysteries. While she officially died in 1431 in Rouen, the appearance of Jeanne des Armoises in 1436 has cast doubt on the matter. Recognized by her brothers and by the city of Orléans, this “other Joan” has left lingering speculation about a last-minute substitution.

illustration: painting by Albert Lynch, 1901.