The Life and Trial of Joan of Arc (1412-1431)

Joan of Arc's legacy also remains rooted in the political landscape of modern France. Her image is often invoked in times of national crisis or political strife, when France looks to its past for a reminder of resilience in the face of adversity. Joan's birthplace, Domrémy, has become a pilgrimage site for those who seek to connect with her spirit. The French national consciousness, which had been shaped in part by Joan's victory at Orléans and her ultimate sacrifice, continues to regard her as a symbol of both the spiritual and political unity of the nation. Her life and death have come to symbolize the unbreakable connection between France and its divine destiny, as well as the moral clarity needed to confront the challenges of the modern world. The canonization of Joan of Arc in 1920 was the culmination of a long process of rehabilitation, but it was also an acknowledgment that her legacy, though rooted in the specific context of 15th-century France, had transcended that context. Her story, far from being confined to the annals of history, remains a living testament to the power of faith, courage, and the resilience of the human spirit. Joan's ability to inspire and provoke thought is evident in how her memory has been shaped and adapted by modern scholars and cultural figures. One of the most significant modern analyses of Joan's life is found in the work of French historian Régine Pernoud, whose influential texts on Joan, such as Joan of Arc: Her Story (1996), challenge the perceptions of Joan as simply a religious or political figure, emphasizing instead her role as a profoundly spiritual person whose faith and divine mission altered the course of history. Pernoud's scholarship works to restore Joan's agency and autonomy, situating her as a figure whose divine calling was not merely a tool of political leaders, but a personal experience of extraordinary depth. In this sense, modern scholarship has worked to recover the complexity of Joan's spirituality and the extent to which her divine visions shaped her decision-making, military strategy, and political actions.