Joan of Arc was born around 1412 in a small village of
Domremry in the northeastern part of France. Her parents were peasants who
owned about fifty acres around the village of Domremry. Her father was one of
the leaders of the village and helped collect taxes and watch over the village.
Joan never went far from home taking care of animals and became a skilled at
sewing and spinning. Joan stayed in the village until she was
about sixteen and then left on a quest to save France.
The house indicated that Joan of arc and her family might
not have been as poor as history perceives them to be. The statue of Joan
kneeling in armor that lies above the front door is not original to the house,
being installed in 1839. The house had four rooms and loft, all covered by a shed
roof.
Located near the house she was born is the The Parish Church of Saint-Remy. Though Joan was not taught to read or write, but was encouraged by her mother to develop a deep love for the catholic faith. Joan was baptized in the church of Saint-Remy and spent much time praying there. This is the church where Joan is said to have her first vision.
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So the church in which Joan of Arc has her first supernatural visions was also the same church that she was baptized at and personally worship within? Do you think that played a large role in provoking these "visions," or do you think that any church would have facilitated such images?
ReplyDeleteWhat an unusual shape for a house. Where all of the houses that shape during this period or was this just an exception?
ReplyDeleteGraham, Yes it was the same church she was baptized and worships in while she was young. It may have had a role in provoking the visions, but i cannot say for sure.
ReplyDeleteJessica,
Houses are different based on the region you live in, this is still true today. This shed style roof was seen in many different regions throughout Europe, and is still used today, usually for a modern style house. As for this period, I would like to say the style of roof is found typically with farm houses. The links below are an interpretation of a medieval farm house, and a farm house in Kent England. These examples also have large pitched roofs, or shed style roofs.
http://www.ampltd.co.uk/collections_az/medieval-family-life/images/Shearingsheep.JPG
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/903197
Joan of Arc is by far one of my favorite people from this time period. It amazes me how influential she was, especially considering the fact that she was a female. I loved seeing the house and church she grew up with, it adds more of a human aspect to her story. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering why history would portray her to have been less wealthy than her family actually was. Could it be that the "rags to riches" stories were as influencing then as they are in today's society?
ReplyDeleteSeeing the house and church that Joan would have grown up in and been baptized in really connect her and her story to the modern world, for me at least. I do wonder how the French people would treat Joan's hometown and the parish church after she died, and if it led to an influx of pilgrims or travelers. Very good post.
ReplyDelete