Sunday 8 April 2012

Joan of Arc.

The woman that today is called Joan of Arc was actually born as Jehanne D'arc on January 6th 1412 in the small french town of Domremy, her name was anglicized for the english population. Joans parents were both peasants but the family lived comfortably.

She was the youngest child in her Family she had 3 older brothers and one substantially older sister.

Joan allegedy first heard the voice of god at age 12. When Joan was 16 she left home in order to answer the call of god who informed her that she was to assist the future king in recapturing french territory form its english invaders.

She became a succesful military leader, in fact some historians consider her one of the reasons for the turning point in the hundred years war. She was the youngest person in history to have ever commanded the armies of a nation, she was only 17 years old at the time.

The young lady was the individual who Crowned King Charles VII at his coronation ceremony after being told to by the voice of god she allegedly heard.

During her battles she was wounded twice, once in the chest with an arrow and once in the thigh after being hit by a crossbow. It is said in several contemporary sources that she predicted both of these injuries prior to their happening.

In 1430 Joan of Arc was captured by Burgundian soldiers who later sold her to English officials later that year for ten thousand gold francs. During her time in jail, Joan was tied to a bed in a regular prison. Tradition stated that she was supposed to have been held in a Church prison and be guarded by women but the english refused her this treatment.

In 1431 she was put on trial for heresy by her english captures. Although the Trial was performed by the church it is believed to have been rigged and paid for by the english government. The English supposedly threatened to torture Joan if she did not deny the voices she had been hearing. She eventually abjured and gave in to the wishes of the judge.

On MAy 30th 1431 Joan of arc was burned at the stake for heresy at the old square of Rouen. She was only 19 years old at the time. Witnesses stated that her last word was Jesus.

In 1456 her original trial was overturned. The church declared that Arc had been completely innocent of all crimes and was indeed a martyr. In 1920 the Catholic church cannonized her and made her into Saint. Which was rather ironic because this was the same church that burned her at the stake centuries earlier.


Saturday 7 April 2012

Marie Antoinette

Born as Maria Antonia Josepha Joanna on November 2nd 1755 in Vienna Austria, Marie Antoinette was the fifteenth child in her family. During her childhood she was educated very well, as would have been expected of an aristocratic child.

After the seven years war, Austria and France were both very interested in creating alliances that would prevent war and strengthen military connections. So they arranged that the young heir to the French throne and Marie would marry. This plot was created by their families when the young betrothed were less than 12 years old.

Once the young Queen arrived in France she had difficulty time adjusting to the new culture and various things that were expected of her. The young couple also faced many problems including the fact that in many ways they were opposite of each other. Louis was a very introverted man who enjoyed spending time alone doing solitary activities. While his wife was extravagant and very outgoing.
Initial Fears that the marriage had not been properly consumated were finally relieved when the couple concieved and Antoinette gave birth to their daughter Marie Therese Charlotte.

Due to her outgoing personality and luxurious lifestyle the queen was  a magnet for controversy and scandal. Antoinette spent a great deal of time without her husband and was rumoured to have had an affair with the swedish diplomat Count Axel Von Ferson. Propaganda was spread throughout France stating the queen's extravagant spending and ignorance to the problems of her subjects. One of the most infamous things that antoinette allegedly said when asked how to feed the hungry or France was that they should just eat cake.

When French Workers stormed the Bastille Prison in Paris starting the French revolution, Antoinette took charge by meeting with officials and sending letters while her husband appeared to have been frozen in a state of shock, unable to react accordingly. This action led to the nickname of Madame Veto, because she appeared to have been taking political control in place of the king.

In june 1791 The royal family attempted to escape the chaos that was ensuing but were unfourtunately captured and returned to Paris. In January of 1793 the king was tried and convicted of treason by the revolters and was put to death.

During The Reign of terror, a tiemperiod that was filled with hundreds of deaths Marie Antoinette was charged with several crimes including theft, treason and sexually abusing her son. LIke her husband Antoinette was sentenced to death by guillotine.

Due to the French revolution and its consequences, Antoinette was the last Queen of France. Her reign is subject to both ridicule and admiration, depending upon which source you care to look at it.