Joan’s next victory was at Jargeau on June 12. Meung-sur-Loire followed on June 15, and Beaugency on June 16. On June 18, the French fought and won the battle of Patay, often called the French answer to Agincourt. At Patay it was the English who suffered huge losses, despite their superior numbers. By the end of June 1429, Joan was ready to lead her dauphin to Reims to be crowned.
The king traveled to Gien, the usual departure point for trips into English-held territory, but several of his advisers were against traveling to Reims. They thought it would be better to attack the English in Normandy. Joan insisted that the king’s anointing come first. After several days of wrangling, the king was persuaded and the army set out for Reims.
With little opposition along the way, the royal party proceeded past towns garrisoned by English and Burgundian troops. Enemy troops were allowed to withdraw unharmed as town after town submitted to the French king. The closer the king’s army got to Reims, the more crowded the roads became with people converging on Reims for the anticipated coronation.
At Chalons, about 25 miles from Reims, Joan spoke with villagers from Domremy who were on their way to witness her moment of triumph. At Reims, fearing that they could not stop the coronation, the English occupiers stripped the cathedral of the crown and other traditional coronation regalia and took it to Paris. When the king’s convoy arrived at Reims on July 16, the burghers opened the gates to receive him. The next day, with substitutions for everything except the Holy Ampulla, Joan’s dauphin was crowned Charles VII of France.
By bringing the king to his coronation, Joan had completed her mission. She and her banner had a place of honor at the coronation, but Regnault de
Chartres excluded her from the state dinner he hosted for the newly crowned king. The coronation marked the high point of Joan’s brief career. After that, her star was in decline.
World History
