During the turbulent times of Saint Joan, society was characterized by a complex network of political, social, and religious interactions that defined people’s lives in Europe. Joan of Arc, or Saint Joan, lived in the late medieval century, particularly the early 15th century, in contradiction to the Hundred Years’ War happening between France and England. A comprehension of the condition of her time encompasses various elements of medieval society, namely, feudalism, religious fervour, gender roles, and the impact of war.
Feudalism provided the framework of medieval society, ordaining the links between lords, vassals, and serfs. The monarchs and nobles, placed at the top of the feudal hierarchy, had massive tracts of land and political will. Below them were the vassals who owed fealty to lords in return for land and protection. Laborers on the contrary were bound to the land they worked upon and subordinate to the lordship of the lords. This hierarchal system institutionalized social stratification and vertical social mobility of the majority of the population was restricted.
Religion was at the heart of all things medieval, culturally, economically, and politically. The Catholic Church was a powerful institution that served as a moral authority and spiritual superior. Priests, monks, and nuns were too long to be effective. Religious ceremonies and rites formed the structure of everyday events, bringing declivity and belief in an uneasy world. Another issue was that the church’s authority was not always uncontested as corruption and power abuse were common.
The separation of power between the genders was quite obvious in medieval times with men as the superior. Patriarchy norms dictated family life and social relations whereby women were assigned domestic chores and childcare. Some women had power though they were not directly seen, but those within noble families were rarely given positions of independence and power. The woman’s emergence as a military commander broke down traditional gender roles and hence received both admiration and suspicion.
The Hundred Years’ War, a prolonged war fought between England and France, is a notable historical event that impacted Saint Joan’s era. The war started in 1337 and continued until 1453. It destroyed the countryside, disrupted trade, and made the people suffer greatly. The battles were fought over land tiffs, dynasty aspirations, and economic interests resulting in genocides. The ordinary people were affected tremendously by the war, as they bore the worst of its physical impacts through famine, disease, and forced movement.
Saint Joan became famous from the historical background of war and political unrest. From a peasant family in the French town of Domrémy, Joan knew the pains of everyday life under the rule of the English. Before Joan’s adulthood, the English had already taken huge chunks of French land, including the valuable city of Orléans. Motivated by the dreams of saints and passionately convinced of her divine mission Joan set on the way to rescue France from the grip of Englishmen.
Joan’s audacious undertaking led her to the court of Charles VII, the dauphin of France, whom she convinced to give her command of the French army. Joan presented herself as a warrior adorned in armor holding the banner with the picture of the Virgin Mary, and she led the French to several successes against the English in the battles including the significant Battle of Orléans in the year 1429. Her martial deeds fired their imagination and gave them the courage to dream.
Joan’s fast rise consequently raised the eyebrows of some important people within the church and state who took Joan as a suspect. She was accused of heresy and witchcraft which culminated in her capture by the English, trial, and execution in 1431. Joan’s tragedy is everlasting; she represents strength, honesty, and rebellion in the grim face of struggle.
In summary, the social order in St. Joan’s era withstood the feudal hierarchy, strict orthodox religion, a reduced role for women, and the disruptions of war. Against this background, the extraordinary account of the slicing of the enigma that was Saint Joan into the legendary figure she became bears witness to the tenacity of the human spirit and the unending search for liberty and justice.
Reference
Shaw, G. B. (1923). Saint Joan. Internet Archive.
https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.532401/page/n5
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