History reminds us of the past by way of what we see in the present. This was certainly the case on a visit to the town of Troyes in the Champagne region of northern France. On gazing up at the ornate stonework above the entrance of the cathedral, a memorial plaque declares:
Conduisant Charles VII a Reims a ete recue le 10 Juillet 1429 dans cette egilse par les troyens revenus spontanment a leur roi legitime.
An approximate English translation is:
Acknowledging Charles VII of Reims was spontaneously received on 10th July 1429 in this church by the people of Troyes as their legitimate king.
This is to acknowledge the surrender of the town of Troyes to the forces of the French King Charles VII of France under the ‘leadership’ of Joan of Arc . This memorial plaque was part of the five hundred years anniversary of the entry of Joan of Arc and King Charles VII of France into Troyes. Gazing above the memorial plaque, the restored stonework of the cathedral tower reveals the intricate details of the original masons.
This was at the time of the ‘Hundreds Year War’ between the English led forces of the north of France with that of the rest of France. The fortunes of this war had been rekindled for the French by the lifting of the siege of Orleans in May of 1429. This is attributed by many to the direct involvement of Joan of Arc in directing the strategy of the breakout from the besieged city. If Orleans had fallen to the English, then the remaining territories within France would likely have fallen. With this change in fortune for the French army, towns and cities progressively joined the French cause. Finally Reims was taken on the 16th of July and Charles VII crowned in its cathedral the following day.
Letter to the people of Troyes
Previously, Joan of Arc had sent a letter on the 4th of July 1429 to the townspeople which is recorded as:
To the lords and burgesses of the city of Troyes
Jesus Maria
Very dear and good friends - if you don't mind - lords, bourgeois, and inhabitants of the town of Troyes, Joan the Maid sends word and makes known to you, in the name of the King of Heaven, her rightful and sovereign Lord, in whose royal service she remains each day, that you should render true obedience and recognition to the noble king of France, who will be at Rheims and Paris quite soon, regardless of whomever may come against us; and [will be] in his towns of the holy kingdom with the help of King Jesus. Loyal Frenchmen, come before King Charles VII and let there be no failing; and do not worry about your lives nor your property if you do so; and if you do not do so I promise and guarantee upon your lives that we will enter, with the help of God, into all the towns which should be part of the holy kingdom, and make there a good durable peace, regardless of whomever may come against us. I commend you to God; may God protect you, if it pleases Him. Reply soon. Before the city of Troyes, written at St. Phal, Tuesday the fourth day of July.
Postscript
Within Troyes there do no not appear to be any other memorials to Joan of Arc. All these years later, however, the aura of Joan of Arc has not diminished as an archtype image of courage in adversity and a demonstration of the ability to inspire others of fainter heart to acts of greatness.
SourceMaid of Heaven "Joan of Arc's Letter to the City of TroyesJuly 4 1429." maidofheaven.com
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