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By Root 2984 0

The French parliament, known as the Estates-General and composed of representatives of the clergy, the nobility, and the Third Estate (everyone else), usually represented only the north of France, not the entire kingdom. The southern provinces had their own estates, and local estates existed in other parts of France. Unlike the English Parliament, which was evolving into a crucial part of the English government, the French Estates-General was simply one of many such institutions.

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A Feminist Heroine: Christine de Pizan on Joan of Arc

Christine de Pizan, France’s “first woman of letters,” was witness to the rescue of France from the hands of the English by the efforts of Joan of Arc and was also present at the coronation of Charles VII as king of France. Christine believed that a turning point had arrived in French history and that Joan—a woman—had been responsible for France’s salvation. She wrote a poem to honor this great occasion. The following stanzas are taken from her poem.

Christine de Pizan, The Poem of Joan of Arc, July 31, 1429

The year of fourteen twenty-nine

The sun came out to shine again.

It brings the season new and good,

Which we had not directly seen

Too long a time, while many passed

Their lives in sorrow; I am one.

But now, no longer do I grieve

Because I see what pleases me….

And you, the King of France, King Charles,

The seventh of that noble name,

Who fought a mighty war before

Good fortune came at all to you:

Do, now, observe your dignity

Exalted by the Maid, who bent

Your enemies beneath your flag

In record time (that’s something new!)

And people thought that it would be

Impossible indeed for you

To ever have your country back,

For it was nearly lost; but now,

It’s clearly yours; no matter who

Has done you wrong, it’s yours once more,

And through the clever Maid who did

Her part therein—thanks be to God!…

When I reflect upon your state,

The youthful maiden that you are,

To whom God gives the force and strength

To be the champion and the one

To suckle France upon her milk

Of peace, the sweetest nourishment,

To overthrow the rebel host:

The wonder passes Nature’s work!

That is, if God, through Joshua

Performed so many miracles

In conquering those places where

So many met defeat—a man

Of strength was Joshua. But she’s

A woman—simple shepherdess—

More brave than ever man at Rome!

An easy thing for God to do!

But as for us, we’ve never heard

About a marvel quite so great

For all the heroes who have lived

In history can’t measure up

In bravery against the Maid,

Who strives to rout our enemies.

It’s God does that, who’s guiding her

Whose courage passes that of men…

By miracle has she appeared,

Divine commandment sent her here.

God’s angel led her in before

The king, to bring her help to him.

There’s no illusion in her case

Because it’s been indeed borne out

In council (in conclusion, then,

A thing is proved by its effect)….

What honor for the female sex!

God’s love for it appears quite clear,

Because the kingdom laid to waste

By all those wretched people now

Stands safe, a woman rescued it

(A hundred thousand men could not

Do that) and killed the hostile foe!

A thing beyond belief before!…

While ridding France of enemies,

Retaking town and castle both.

No force was ever quite so great,

If hundreds or if thousands strong!

Among our men so brave and apt

She’s captain over all; such strength

No Hector or Achilles had.

All this God does, who’s guiding her….

The English will be crushed through her,

And never will they rise again

For God who wills it hears the voice

Of guiltless folk they tried to harm!

The blood of those they’ve killed, who’ll walk

No more, cries out. God wants an end

To this; instead He has resolved

To chastise them as evil men.

In Christine de Pizan’s view, what had Joan accomplished? Why did Christine consider those accomplishments