Joan of Arc

[HullMum]

Any of you history buff types know much about her?

I was fascinated by her as a child and a teenager, and as an adult wonder what her real situation was.

I'm an atheist so don't believe she was really a saint so I wonder if she was mentally ill, or if she lied about what she was seeing to put herself in to to a situation that as a female she could never otherwise be in?

i think she genuinely believed she had heard voices from God. whether she did or not is another matter, and beyond me to determine. She does not come across as mentally ill in the reports of her replies at her trial, she seems a down to earth, sensible person.

as a peasant girl, it was a very unusual position she was in, although it was not unheard of for women to be military leaders, it was certainly very unusual for a peasant to be in that position, and for a girl to wear masculine clothes and cut her hair. She was a remarkable person.

Part of me thinks she used the saints' "backing" to give her some status considering she was a girl and so not many people would listen to her.

My understanding is that the French sold her out to the English because she was getting a bit too much power and was taking military decisions that the King didnt agree with.

I also seem to remember that the "reason" she was convicted was for wearing men's trousers and that she kept her trousers on at all times in prison for fear of being raped.