Front matter

A chronology

Dates marked as uncertain are reconstructed from later testimony or conflicting chronicles. They are in the story; they are not sworn to a day.

  1. c. 1412 · ?

    Domrémy

    Birth of Jehanne, daughter of Jacques d’Arc and Isabelle Romée. Age given at trial (1431) as nineteen or thereabout.

  2. 1415, 25 Oct

    Agincourt

    English victory. The Armagnac military aristocracy is broken.

  3. 1420, 21 May

    Troyes

    Treaty of Troyes: Charles VI disinherits his son; Henry V becomes heir of France.

  4. 1422

    Deaths of Henry V (August) and Charles VI (October). Infant Henry VI proclaimed king of France in Paris. Charles holds south of the Loire.

  5. c. 1425 · ?

    Domrémy

    Joan, in her thirteenth year, first hears a voice in her father’s garden. She later names Saint Michael, then Saints Catherine and Margaret.

  6. 1428, May · ?

    Vaucouleurs

    First approach to Robert de Baudricourt. Refusal.

  7. 1428, summer–autumn · ?

    Domrémy / Neufchâteau

    Burgundian raid; the village flees. Stay at the inn of La Rousse. Lawsuit at Toul over an alleged marriage promise.

  8. 1428, Oct

    Orléans

    Salisbury opens the siege. The Tourelles are taken. Salisbury is mortally wounded in November.

  9. 1429, Jan

    Vaucouleurs

    Joan stays with the Le Royer household. Jean de Metz and Bertrand de Poulengy promise to take her to the king.

  10. 1429, 12 Feb

    Rouvray

    Day of the Herrings: Fastolf’s convoy defeats a French-Scottish force. Joan, at Vaucouleurs, is later said to have announced a reverse the same day.

  11. 1429, 22–23 Feb

    Vaucouleurs

    Departure for Chinon with six men, in male dress. ‘Eleven days to the king.’

  12. 1429, c. 4–6 Mar · ?

    Chinon

    Arrival; audience with Charles; private sign. Meeting with Alençon.

  13. 1429, mid-Mar

    Poitiers

    Theological examination. No evil found. She is to be sent to Orléans; the event will be the sign.

  14. 1429, 22 Mar

    Poitiers

    Letter to the English (Holy Week): surrender the towns; leave Orléans; Charles is the true heir.

  15. 1429, Apr

    Tours / Fierbois

    Armor and standard made. Sword sought at Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois.

  16. 1429, 29 Apr

    Orléans

    Evening entry by the Burgundy Gate. Lodging with Jacques Boucher.

  17. 1429, 4 May

    Orléans

    Bastide of Saint-Loup taken.

  18. 1429, 5 May

    Orléans

    Ascension: no combat. Letter shot into the English lines.

  19. 1429, 6 May

    Orléans

    Bastide of the Augustins taken on the south bank.

  20. 1429, 7 May

    Orléans

    Assault on the Tourelles. Joan wounded by an arrow. Glasdale drowns. The fortress falls at evening.

  21. 1429, 8 May

    Orléans

    The English abandon the remaining bastides. The siege is raised.

  22. 1429, 11–12 Jun

    Jargeau

    Town taken. Suffolk captured. Joan struck on the helmet by a stone.

  23. 1429, 15 Jun

    Meung-sur-Loire

    The bridge taken.

  24. 1429, 16–17 Jun

    Beaugency

    Town yielded. Richemont joins the army.

  25. 1429, 18 Jun

    Patay

    English field army routed. Talbot captured. Fastolf escapes.

  26. 1429, late Jun

    Gien

    Coronation army gathers. Letters of summons. Joan writes to Tournai and to Burgundy.

  27. 1429, 9 Jul

    Troyes

    The treaty-city opens after a threatened assault.

  28. 1429, 16 Jul

    Reims

    The city opens its gates.

  29. 1429, 17 Jul

    Reims

    Charles VII anointed and crowned. Joan stands with her standard. She writes again to the Duke of Burgundy. Domrémy and Greux are exempted from the taille.