Joan of Arc: Military Strategist and Heroine of France

Quincy Standage

HIST 322 Joan of Arc: Film and History

Dr. Shelley Wolbrink

December 6, 2018
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Strength in leadership led Joan of Arc to command a force of over 10,000 soldiers. Joan

was entrusted with thousands of troops by Charles VII, who believed in her divinely inspired

mission to save France. A natural born leader, Joan of Arc, grew into her military command with

the guidance of others. It is important to note that the initial military knowledge of Joan was

passed onto her by men including Charles VII, Robert de Baudricourt, Jean d'Aulon, the Bastard

of Orleans, and the Duke of Alençon. The fascination of these men with Joan created a strong

relationship she employed to guide her military career. The bond between Joan and these men

grew on the battlefield as Joan earned respect from her victory at the Battle of Orleans. Despite

the bond Joan forms with her fellow commanders, she also demonstrates an element of challenge

towards the other commanders’ decisions. Scholar Kelley DeVries asserts that this behavior

early on in Joan’s military career created doubt because her ideas for defeating the English

negated the currently military advisors, finding it to be a “indictment of their military

leadership.”1 Joan’s difficulty in working with other commanders stems from her inability to

navigate the political sphere. Joan’s absolute belief in her voices and God provided her with

commands on how and when to initiate military engagements. Joan’s lack of communication

skills led to a frustrating and strained relationship among leaders including the Bastard of

Orleans and Charles VII. The victories that Joan earned made her revered among the common

people and other soldiers. Joan’s guidance and challenge of French leaders, assertive tone, and

unique military strategies led her to become a revered French military strategist.

Robert Baudricourt and the Duke of Alençon staunchly supported Joan's mission to drive

the English from Orleans. Robert Baudricourt influenced Joan from the beginning when she

showed up at Vaucouleurs demanding to be escorted to Charles VII on account of her revelations

1
Kelley DeVries, "Joan of Arc." Military History 24, no. 10 (January 2008): 32.
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from her voices. His political power enabled Joan to be heard by Charles VII initially. Joan first

met the Duke of Alençon at Chinon when Joan initially spoke to the future king. The Duke

became a supporter of Joan after the Poitiers Conclusions found “nothing in her contrary to the

Catholic faith.”2 Charles VII’s great need of assistance and possible desperation is a reason why

he accepted and allowed Joan to lead a force. Alençon and Baudricourt both marveled at the

natural ability Joan possessed to lead a war campaign. The Duke of Alençon also argued that

Joan “in the conduct of war she was most skillful, both in carrying a lance herself, in drawing up

the army in battle order, and in placing the artillery.”3 This account is important because it relays

Joan’s military prowess including the strategic placement of artillery. Joan’s role in placing each

piece of artillery for a siege or battle demonstrates her detailed approach to a military encounter.

The military knowledge Joan possessed is exceptional because she was not born into a military

savvy family and her parents did not concern themselves with the affairs of war. Scholar Stephen

Richey argues that Joan was well-versed in “just-war” theory having learned this from the

military leaders surrounding her.4 Richey states Joan “lent credibility to the idea that she was

fighting for a righteous cause, thereby boosting her prestige in the eyes of her supporters.”5 This

lack of military knowledge led Joan to lean on individuals including Baudricourt and Alençon

for support on military and political engagements. The support they provided helped Joan grow

into her role as a French commander.

In addition to military knowledge and support from Baudricourt and the Duke of

Alençon, the Dauphin was crucial in equipping Joan with the tools needed for success. DeVries

2
Régine Pernoud, The Retrial of Joan of Arc: The Evidence for Her Vindication (San Francisco: Ignatius Press,
2007), 154.
3
Régine Pernoud, The Retrial of Joan of Arc: The Evidence for Her Vindication (San Francisco: Ignatius Press,
2007), 160-161.
4
Stephen Richey, Joan of Arc: The Warrior Saint (Westport: Praeger Publishers, 2003), 40.
5
Ibid., 40.
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argues that Joan's acquirement of her armor and sword completed her transformation into a

military leader. Charles VII’s need for a rally to the French cause led him to accept Joan's

assistance. The future king provided financial support, custom armor, her standard, a horse, and

lodging. The Royal Finance Records indicate that Joan was responsible for distributing payments

to the army. The “the sum of 5,711 livres-Tournois, which, by order of the King our lord, had

been paid out to them […] to compensate them and their men for the substantial expenses which

they had incurred while in the company of many other commanders, leaders of men-at-arms and

projectile-troops.”6 The support provided by the future king through finance and items including

armor demonstrates that he was also supportive of Joan’s male dress. Without the backing of the

Charles VII, Joan would not have rose to be a revered military commander.

Charles VII provided Joan with the financial resources used for her personal and military

needs, her standard and sword established her as a legitimate force. Joan gained legitimacy when

she sent a runner to find a sword behind the alter of the Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois. The ability

of Joan to know the exact location of the rusted sword was viewed as miracle or divine

intervention. Scholar Larissa Taylor argues that Joan’s sword is critical to establishing

legitimacy of her mission asserting “a special sword identified Joan as God’s warrior.”7 The

standard that was created for Joan is a symbol of her relationship with God and France. Joan

carried it into battle to rally soldiers under the message of God. The national symbol of France

the Fleurs-de-lis and the phrase Jhesus-Maria were inscribed on her standard asserting a positive

message of God and France. During the King’s coronation at Rheims after the battle of Orleans

the standard was presented as a symbol of the war effort. Upon questioning her role in the
6
Margaret Walsh and Allen Williamson, “Royal Financial Records Concerning Payments for Twenty-Seven
Contingents in the Portion of Joan of Arc's Army Which Arrived At Orléans on 4 May 1429” (Historical Association
for Joan of Arc Studies, 2006), 2.
7
Larissa Taylor, The Virgin Warrior: The Life and Death of Joan of Arc (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2009),
52.
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military campaign in the ninth public examination Joan asserted that her standard had earned the

honor of being presented at the coronation of Charles VII.8

Using her miraculous sword and godly standard Joan’s voices guided her military

decisions. Another example of Joan’s piety in battle is when she looked to one of her gold rings,

inscribed Jhesus Maria including three crosses, before any battle.9 The pious elements of Joan

earned her credibility among the lower classes who viewed Joan as an individual commanded by

God. These beliefs were passed on to her soldiers making her piety a symbol of hope among the

French soldiers. In the modern-day Joan is depicted with her standard and sword as her main

tools of war. The Duke of Alençon recognized the importance of utilizing Joan’s strengths before

her predicted death. Taylor argues that the Duke of Alençon attempted to get the most out of

Joan by testifying "that Joan had predicted that she would last for one year and no more, calling

upon Charles VII to consider how best to employ her for that year."10 Joan’s impending death

motivated the Duke of Alençon to support her mission. The piety and symbolism of her standard

and sword created a rallying cry for the French soldiers.

Despite Joan’s respect for those who mentored her, she frequently challenged the orders

and guidance given to her by other leaders. This is demonstrated by the Duke of Alençon who

asserted that "as it seemed to me to be premature to start the attack so quickly, Joan said to me,

'Do not have doubts […] Act, and God will act.'"11 This demonstration of challenging behavior

towards the Duke is due to Joan’s belief in her purpose to save France from England and to

crown Charles VII. Joan frequently argued with leaders including the Bastard of Orleans about

8
Craig Taylor, Joan of Arc: La Pucelle (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2006), 203.
9
Ibid., 202.
10
Charles Taylor, Joan of Arc: La Pucelle (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2006), 21.
11
Régine Pernound, The Retrial of Joan of Arc: The Evidence for Her Vindication (San Francisco: Ignatius Press,
2007), 157.
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an attack plan.12 Joan’s rocky relationship with the Bastard of Orleans is partly due to her

challenging the Bastards orders and demanding his cooperation. In an account by Jean d’Aulon,

Joan asserts “Bastard, Bastard, in the name of God, I command you to let me know as soon as

you hear of Fastolf’s coming. For if he gets through without my knowing it, I swear to you that I

will have your head cut off.”13 This authoritative tone is indicative of a larger issue with

following authority. Joan’s challenging nature and boldness helped lead her to success and

helped her establish a commanding presence on the battlefield.

Joan’s boldness was a source of contention between different leaders at the Battle of

Orleans. Inspiration to fight the English brought Joan a reputation of rallying soldiers in times of

difficulty. With the power of her sword and standard, Joan rallied the troops at Orleans leading

France to victory. Joan did not always have the approval of her fellow commanders at Orleans.

Richey argues that "Joan's primary contribution to the strategy employed by the French army at

Orleans was to browbeat her co-commanders into making the moves that were obviously correct

but that they were too timid to make on their own."14

Joan's commanding presence brought a sense of solidarity and commitment to the

battlefield unmatched by other commanders. The first military strategy Joan employed at the

battle of Orleans suggests that she was aware of the turmoil among the French people. The

Journal of the Siege written in 1467 suggests that Joan's entry into Orleans had to be conducted

at night "to avoid the tumult of the people" due to the popularity and interest surrounding the

Pucelle.15 This acknowledgment of her popularity and her decision to enter the city at nightfall

demonstrates military strategy. Another strategy Joan employed at Orleans was her time spent in
12
Stephen Richey, Joan of Arc: The Warrior Saint (Westport: Praeger Publishers, 2003), 57.
13
Craig Taylor, Joan of Arc: La Pucelle (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2006), 166.
14
Stephen Richey, Joan of Arc: The Warrior Saint (Westport: Praeger Publishers, 2003), 64.
15
Régine Pernoud, Joan of Arc: By Herself and Her Witnesses (Lanham: Scarborough House, 1994), 83.
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the trenches. Joan's time in the trenches led her to continue to flourish the patriotic spirit of her

soldiers. The Bastard of Orleans spoke of Joan's leadership as "it seems to me that Joan and also

what she did in warfare and in battle was rather of God than of men."16 The feats that Joan was

able to accomplish at the victory of Orleans garnered support for the following skirmishes

between the French and the English. Joan's ability to plan and maintain support from her soldiers

is a key pillar of her excellent military leadership.

Joan of Arc wrote letters that demonstrate her assertive leadership style. The demanding

voice that Joan used towards opposition included death threats and ultimatums. It is important to

note that Joan’s assertive tone was not always well received and often had a threatening nature

unheard of from women in the fifteenth century. Scholar Peggy McCracken asserts that “the

presence of a woman warrior on the field of battle may be seen to threaten the practice of

chivalric heroism as a masculine prerogative.”17 A letter Joan wrote in 1429 in Poitiers,

demonstrates several key threats towards the English where Joan asserts “King of England, […] I

am commander of war, and in whatever place I come upon your men in France, I will make them

leave, whether they wish to or not. And if they do not wish to obey, I will have them all killed.”18

The threat of death is a way in which Joan was able to manipulate the English’s emotions

causing outcries of rage towards the Pucelle. By proclaiming the death of English men in the

name of France as a “commander of war” Joan is arguably using her status and reputation in

France as leverage against the English.19 In a letter to the English dated May 5, 1429, Joan

practices elements of chivalry in her command by asserting “I will return to you some of your

men captured at the fortress of Saint-Loup, for they are not all dead.”20 This assertion by Joan is
16
Régine Pernoud, Joan of Arc: By Herself and Her Witnesses (Lanham: Scarborough House, 1994), 82.
17
Peggy McCracken, "The Amenorrhea of War" (Signs 28, no. 2, 2003), 634-39.
18
Craig Taylor, Joan of Arc: La Pucelle (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2006), 75.
19
Craig Taylor, Joan of Arc: La Pucelle (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2006), 75.
20
Craig Taylor, Joan of Arc: La Pucelle (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2006), 84.
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critical in displaying that she was capable of offering mercy and following the guidelines of

chivalry.

The key weakness she presented was her lack of interest in the political sphere and

learning how to navigate the court properly. Taylor argues that "although she was a quick study

and demonstrated extraordinary skill among both theologians and military men, she had neither

mastered nor shown herself particularly interested in court intrigues or dynastic struggles unless

they directly affected her mission."21 Despite this Joan was able to convince Charles VII to be

crowned in Rheims despite the dangers of travel. The importance of this event is that prior kings

had been anointed by the oil of Clovis giving legitimacy to the new king.22 Joan’s ability to

convince the king demonstrates the high value her opinion held to Charles VII. While Joan

generally struggled to navigate the political sphere, she was able to unite France by crowning

Charles VII in Rheims. Describing her as the commander of the French army, scholar Megan

McLaughlin asserts that medieval women including Joan “might be more appropriately be called

"generals" than ‘warriors,’ since it is not clear whether they actually wielded weapons and struck

blows on the battlefield.”23 Joan’s legacy for a lack of diplomacy and argumentative tone marks

her as an assertive French commander inspiring future leaders.

Bibliography

Primary Sources:

21
Larissa Taylor, The Virgin Warrior: The Life and Death of Joan of Arc (New Haven: Yale University Press,
2009), 95.
22
Larissa Taylor, The Virgin Warrior: The Life and Death of Joan of Arc (New Haven: Yale University Press,
2009), 93.
23
Megan McLaughlin, “The Woman Warrior: Gender, Warfare and Society in Medieval Europe” (Women’s Studies
17, no. ¾, January 1990), 193–209.
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Pernoud, Régine. Joan of Arc: By Herself and Her Witnesses. Lanham: Scarborough House,
1994.
Pernoud, Régine. The Retrial of Joan of Arc: The Evidence for Her Vindication. San Francisco:
Ignatius Press, 2007.
Taylor, Craig. Joan of Arc: La Pucelle. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2006.
Walsh, Margaret and Allen Williamson. “Royal Financial Records Concerning Payments for
Twenty-Seven Contingents in the Portion of Joan of Arc's Army Which Arrived At
Orléans on 4 May 1429.” Historical Association for Joan of Arc Studies, 2006.
http://primary-sources-series.joan-of-arc-studies.org/PSS021406.pdf

Secondary Sources:
DeVries, Kelly. ""Because It Was Paris": Joan of Arc's Attack on Paris Reconsidered."
Magistra Doctissima: Essays in Honor of Bonnie Wheeler (2013): 123-31.
DeVries, Kelly. Joan of Arc: A Military Leader. Phoenix Mill: Sutton Publishing Limited, 1999.
DeVries, Kelly. "Joan of Arc." Military History 24, no. 10 (January 2008): 26-35.
McCracken, Peggy. "The Amenorrhea of War." Signs 28, no. 2 (2003): 634-39.

McLaughlin, Megan. “The Woman Warrior: Gender, Warfare and Society in Medieval Europe.”
Women’s Studies 17, no. 3/4 (January 1990): 193–209.
Richey, Stephen W. Joan of Arc: The Warrior Saint. Westport: Praeger Publishers, 2003.
Taylor, Larissa. The Virgin Warrior: The Life and Death of Joan of Arc. New Haven: Yale
University Press, 2009.