A meeting between Joan of Arc and Charles VII; from "Chroniques de Saint-Denis"

Unidentified (European artist)

This appears to be a folio leaf from Grandes Chroniques de France, the first major compendium of French history dating from the Franks' mythological Trojan origins. Compiled by the monks of the Abbey of Saint-Denis beginning in the late 13th century, these richly illuminated manuscipts were meant only for royalty. In 1476 the first print version was published in three volumes by Pasquiere Bonhomme in Paris; in 1493, the first illutrated print version was published by Antoine Verdan. The Chroniques would be published again in 1514 and 1518 by other publishers.

This woodcut, which comes from one of the earlier French editions, shows Charles VII meeting with Joan of Arc, the "Maid of Orleans," in Chinon in February of 1429. The French Fleur-de-Lys hangs above them. Charles VII achieved the throne through the actions of Joan of Arc; thus this scene's particular significance to the encyclopedia. There is printed text on the verso.

Joan of Arc was a peasant girl who, as a teenager, received visions from God commanding her to lead a French army to the besieged city of Orleans. There, she and her army achieved a momentous victory over the English and their French allies, the Burgundians, leading to the crowning of Charles VII. Joan of Arc was captured by Anglo-Burgundian forces, tried for witchcraft and heresy, and burned at the stake in 1431, at the age of 19.