Joan of Arc

The most used woman in history

With a story as powerful today as it was 600 years ago, its not
surprising that the 19 year old heroine has been used (and
abused) by people who want to claim her for their cause.
From virgin to a whore, transgressive cross-dresser to saint,
peasant to political icon, and a thousand more appropriations,
shes been whatever people have wanted her to be...

MILITARY GENIUS

This girl could ride a

war horse, fight like
a seasoned soldier,
strategise like a
commander, deploy
heavy weapons and lead
an army with skill and
authority.

VIRTUOUS VIRGIN

Combine a teenage virgin with

a suit of armour and you get the
perfect representation of virtue.
All that knightly valour and
honour in a inncocent female
package becomes a cypher for
whatever virtuous cause you want
to represent...
...perfect for the SUFFRAGETTE MOVEMENT

SUBLIME CHILD

Mark Twain was obsessed

with this aspect of her and
spent 12 years writing a book
in which the narrator calls her
that wonderful child, that
sublime personality, that spirit
which in one regard has had
no peer and will have none...

NOBLE PEASANT

During the 19th century, Joan

became a Romantic heroine a free spirit whose power was
drawn up through her bucolic
roots.
This is Joan as daughter of
the earth, essence of nature,
unsullied by knowledge of the
wider world. Schillers play The
Maid of Orleons draws heavily

WITCH
The Duke of Bedford and
Bishop Cauchon - two of
Joans greatest enemies - ran
a powerful campaign to have
her branded as a cunning
witch in league with the devil.
They saw her wearing of
boys clothes as a perversion
of womanhood, and made
that the basis of their charges
against her.

But by 1500 it was clear that

their campaign had failed and
that her legacy would be more
positive than they could ever have
imagined.

SAINT

Joan was canonised by the Catholic

Church in 1920 and made the patron
saint of France.
She is revered so highly that parallels
with Christ wearing the crown of thorns
are not uncommon. The 1928 film
starring Rene Jeanne Falconetti as Joan
clearly makes that link.

PERFECT SACRIFICE

Youd think this one might be a bit

dated, but Joan as sacrifice is still
inspiring people today. From the
Traditionalist Youth Network website Joan of Arc is a hero for her sacrifice,
and she should be an inspiration to
Traditionalist women and the movement at large...
The humble sacrifice of Saint Joan
of Arc and her steadfast willingness
to die for her beliefs and her faith
demonstrate the true Traditionalist
motivation: self sacrifice for something
greater than yourself. The dedication
to our race, our faith, and our nation
needs to be as strong as Saint Joans
was.

POLITICAL ICON

French political leaders vie to claim

Joan as theirs. Marine Le Pen, leader
of the far-right Front National lays a
wreath at the statue of Joan at the May
Day rally each year.
In 2012 at an event to commemorate
the 600th anniversary of Joans
birth, President Sarkozy attempted
to wrestle her from right wing
ownership saying Joan doesnt
belong to any party, any faction, any
clan May we continue to think of
her as the symbol of our unity and
not leave her in the hands of those
who would use her to divide. To
divide in the name of Joan of Arc is to
betray Joan of Arcs memory.

Left wing group Femen disprupt the

Front National rally every year.

SO WHO WAS SHE?

Until we know the truth of her
identity, until we can examine
her actions in the light of that
truth, Joan of Arc will remain
the vehicle of the worlds
projections.
But the truth is greater than
the sum of the lies. She was
a woman of extraordinary
fortitude, courage, insight and
conviction. All these are true.
She was also a trained knight, an
accomplished equestrian, and

a very real threat to the political

elite who surrounded her king.
None of these was acceptable in
a woman of her time, and so the
lies grew.
Now, in the twenty-first century,
we can begin to peel back the
accretions of the centuries to
expose the truth - and then
deal with the backlash that
will inevitably arise when the
fantasy castles in the sky begin to
crumble.

MANDA SCOTTS latest novel

does just this. Combining a
modern day police thriller
with an examination of the
truth behind the myths, it
weaves truth and fiction in an
incendiary mix that will dispel
forever the myths of the past.
Forget what you thought you
knew. This changes everything.

IMAGE CREDITS
MILITARY GENIUS
1. Jules Lenepveu 1886-1890
2. Promo image from Luc Bessons film The Messenger starring Milla Jovovich
3. Hermann Anton Stilke
VIRTUOUS VIRGIN
1.Pauline Chase as Joan of Arc 1909
2. Paul Antoin de la Boulaye 1909
3. John Everett Millais
4. The Suffragette, by The Womens Social and Political Union 1912
5. Punch Magazine 1918
SUBLIME CHILD
1. Edward Reginald Frampton 1872-1923
2. La Petite Jeanette, Virginie Demont-Beton
3. Allan Douglas Davidson
NOBLE PEASANT
1. Jules Bastien Lepage 1879
2. Jeanne DArc Holy Card - ref maidofheaven.com
3. Jules Lenepveu
WITCH
1. Promo Image from Madonnas Rebel Heart album
SAINT
1. maidofheaven.com
2. Renee Maria Falconetti directed by Carl Dreyer
PERFECT SACRIFICE
1. Hermann Anton Stilke
2. Francio Chifflart
3. Jules Lenepveu 1890
POLITICAL ICON
1. Marine Le Penn - Ernest Morales Flickr Commons
2. Statue of Joan of Arc Philadelphia - Wiki Commons
3. Kenzio Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images