Joan of Arc, footnote 319

Footnote 319

This is one of these subjects for which I hesitate to cite the testimony, given the penchant that many people have for deliberately sensationalizing the issue: for instance, V. Sackville-West tried to make the absurd claim that some of her captains saw her naked, which is not at all what they actually said; the above author also tried to claim that the lack of desire for her was caused by the fact that she was allegedly unappealing or androgynous, which is precisely the opposite of what these men said. But it is these very distortions which require me to try to present a more honest view of the subject despite the risk that the evidence will be misused, to say nothing of the fact that even a respectful presentation of the testimony on such a subject seems demeaning: some of these men felt it necessary to tell Inquisitor Bréhal exactly what they found attractive about her, which seems a bit surreal under the circumstances and also a bit disrespectful. But it at least debunks the stereotype, first promoted in the propaganda of her enemies and now popularized by so many recent books and movies, that she was "foul-faced", unappealing, and androgynous: no one who has read the testimony below can possibly take such claims seriously.
The relevant testimony includes the following:

The Count of Dunois, one of her commanders: "... when myself and the others were in the Maiden's company none of us had any wish or desire to have intercourse with women; and it seemed that this was almost miraculous." (For the original language, see: DuParc's "Procès en Nullité...", Vol I, p. 325; for translations, see Oursel's "Les Procès de Jeanne d'Arc", p. 249, and Pernoud's "The Retrial of Joan of Arc", p. 128).

Bertrand de Poulengy, who escorted her to Chinon: "Each night, Jehanne lay down to sleep beside Jean de Metz and myself, wearing her surcoat and her hosen [i.e., pants], laced and secured [this refers to the fact that such clothing was designed so that the tunic and pants could be fastened together]. At that time I was young, nevertheless I never had any desire or carnal impulse to know her as a woman; I wouldn't have dared to make such a request of Jehanne, as a result of the goodness that I saw in her." (For the original language, see: DuParc's "Procès en Nullité...", Vol I, p. 306; for translations, see Oursel's "Les Procès de Jeanne d'Arc", p. 239, and Pernoud's "The Retrial of Joan of Arc", pp. 91 - 92).

Jean de Metz: "[In the fields along the way to Chinon] She, myself and Bertrand took our rest together each night, but the Maiden slept near me, wearing her tunic and hosen, and I felt such dread of her that I would not have dared to ask [her to have sex]; and upon my oath I never had any desire towards her nor carnal feeling." (For the original language, see: DuParc's "Procès en Nullité...", Vol I, p. 291; for translations, see Oursel's "Les Procès de Jeanne d'Arc", p. 230, and Pernoud's "The Retrial of Joan of Arc", p. 87).

Gobert Thibault, King's squire: "In the army she was always with the soldiers; and I have heard it said by many of Jehanne's companions that they never had desire for her, or rather sometimes desire was present but they never would have been so presumptuous [i.e., to actually act on it]; and they believed that such was not possible; and many times, when they were speaking about sins of the flesh and words which could incite carnal desires, when they saw and came near to her, they could not speak of such things, as they suddenly lost all carnal desire. And I questioned several who sometimes slept at night in Jehanne's company, who answered me as I have just testified..." (For the original language, see: DuParc's "Procès en Nullité...", Vol I, p. 370; for translations, see Oursel's "Les Procès de Jeanne d'Arc", pp. 278 - 279, and Pernoud's "The Retrial of Joan of Arc", p. 107).

Jean d'Aulon, her squire and bodyguard: "Even though she was a young girl, beautiful and shapely, and there were many times, when helping her to put on her armor or otherwise, I have seen her breasts [i.e., the shape of the breasts underneath her tunic: clothing was always worn with armor, needless to say]; and sometimes her legs completely bare when dressing her wounds, [i.e., at the siege of Paris where she was shot in the thigh] and I went near to her many times, and I was [at that time] strong, young and in my prime, never did I feel carnal desire towards her from any sight or contact I had with the Maiden; neither did any of her soldiers or squires, based on what I heard them say many times." (For the original language, see: DuParc's "Procès en Nullité...", Vol I, p. 486; for translations, see Oursel's "Les Procès de Jeanne d'Arc", p. 356, and Pernoud's "The Retrial of Joan of Arc", p. 154).

Duke Jean II d'Alençon, one of her commanders: "Sometimes in the army I slept in the field beside Jehanne and the soldiers, and I sometimes saw Jehanne prepare for sleep, and sometimes saw her breasts [again, only the shape: she always slept fully clothed, according to the other eyewitnesses], which were beautiful; however, at no time did I ever have any carnal desire for her." (For the original language, see: DuParc's "Procès en Nullité...", Vol I, p. 387; for translations, see Oursel's "Les Procès de Jeanne d'Arc", p. 290, and Pernoud's "The Retrial of Joan of Arc", p. 142).

"Chronique de la Pucelle": "if it so happened that she had to take her lodging in the fields with the soldiers, she never removed her armor. There were many, even among the great lords, who determined to find out whether they could spend the night with her; and for this purpose they went to her nobly dressed; but as soon as they saw her, all feelings of desire ceased" (for a transcription of the original language, see Quicherat's "Procès...", Vol IV, p. 250.)

Return to the biography.