A meeting between Joan of Arc and Charles VII; from "Chroniques de Saint-Denis" by Unidentified European
A meeting between Joan of Arc and Charles VII; from "Chroniques de Saint-Denis"
Unidentified European
A meeting between Joan of Arc and Charles VII; from "Chroniques de Saint-Denis"
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, lead a French army to the besieged city of Orleans after claiming to have received visions from God to do so. 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.
The Rudimentum Novitiorum became better known through its French translations under the title La Mer des Hystoires, and was printed in Paris in 1488-89 and again around 1503 and 1517; it was also printed in Lyon in 1491 and 1506.
Joan of Arc was a peasant girl who, as a teenager, lead a French army to the besieged city of Orleans after claiming to have received visions from God to do so. 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. The Rudimentum Novitiorum became better known through its French translations under the title La Mer des Hystoires, and was printed in Paris in 1488-89 and again around 1503 and 1517; it was also printed in Lyon in 1491 and 1506.