Joan of Arc

Summary

Relief of Orleans

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Summary Relief of Orleans

When the French realized that the English were retreating from the Siege of Orleans, most commanders wanted to pursue them. Joan, however, refused to allow pursuit because it was Sunday. Thus, tactical advantage was sacrificed to her extreme piety. While many commanders felt they were losing a great opportunity, Joan argued that if they rested on the Sabbath, God would repay them with more victories and glories later. Although in a very strict sense this decision did represent a missed opportunity to strike at the English, it probably did have a positive effect on the French armies morale: they were now very inspired by Joan's piety and felt that it gave them a special power to win. The fact was, as long as the French armies felt that Joan's presence gave them a special power, it did. The increased enthusiasm and bravery brought by her presence gave them a deadlier fighting force.

Having ended the long stalemate at the Siege of Orleans, Joan now became extremely popular with both the army and the French people. Increasingly, commanders looked to this teenage girl to give orders, and eagerly followed these. Not everyone instantly worshipped Joan, however: Charles's advisors were quite suspicious of her, and envied her growing popularity and power. Many of Charles's advisors sought to undermine Joan's plans and counseled the Dauphin to wait a while before setting out to Reims to be crowned and anointed.

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