South Aisle, Orleans Cathedral

These 5 stained glass windows are part of a series of 10 windows on the life of Joan of Arc. They are part of a commission by Jacque Galland and Esprit Gibelin for Orleans Cathedral in France.

The panel above depicts the events on the 8th of May 1429, the day after the battle to defend Orleans from the English army. The English on the north bank of the Loire lined up in battle array adopting the formation that had been so successful at Crecy, Poitier, and Agincourt, inviting the French to attack. The French army having lined up opposite to the English were persuaded by Joan not to do battle as it was Sunday and that God wanted them to allow the English to leave. After an hour the English marched away.1

Having broken the siege at Orleans Joan persuaded a reluctant Charles to march towards Reims, the French army made rapid progress capturing a number of towns along the Loire that were held by the English as they went. On the 16th of July Joan made a triumphant entry into Reims where all French kings were crowned, and on the following day the coronation of Charles VII was conducted.2

On morning of the 23rd of May 1430 Joan and a small relief force entered into Compiègne which was being besieged by the Burgundians. In the afternoon she led an attack on the Burgundian camp, however her forces were ambushed and before they could make their way back into Compiègne the drawbridge was raised leaving her outside of the town. Having been pulled off her horse by an archer she was taken prisoner by Lionel of Wandomme one of John of Luxembourg's men.3

Immediately after her capture Joan was held by John of Luxembourg first at Vermandois and then at Beaurevoir. She attempted to escape at both places, and after here attempted escape at Beaurevoir where she jumped 60 ft from the tower into the moat, John of Luxembourg had her moved to Arras. On the 3rd of January 1431 she was handed over to Pierre Cauchon, the Bishop of Beauvais, for 10,000 livres, and transferred to Rouen for trial by the church as whether she was a witch. On the 13th of January the preliminary inquiry began, presided over by Bishop Cauchon and the vice inquisitor of France. The first task was to examine whether Joan was virgin this examination was conducted under the auspices of the Duchess of Bedford. Additionally enquiries were made about Joan's early life in Domremy. After which Joan was question on 15 separate occasions between 21st February and the 17th of March 1431.4

• 1. Hundred Years' War: Siege of Orléans http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/battleswars14011600/p/siege-of-orlea...
• 2. Joan of Arc, Brief Biography http://archive.joan-of-arc.org/joanofarc_short_biography.html#reims
• 3. Battle at Compiegne http://www.sparknotes.com/biography/joanofarc/section8.rhtml
• 4. Medieval Sourcebook: http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/joanofarc-trial.asp