Joan of Arc Acquitted of Heresy in Posthumous Retrial
In the mid-15th century, France remained embroiled in the Hundred Years' War with England, and Joan of Arc had emerged as a charismatic military leader who inspired French forces before her capture and execution in 1431 on charges of heresy. Twenty-five years later, at the request of her family and amid efforts to rehabilitate her reputation and bolster French national identity, a retrial convened in Rouen under ecclesiastical authorities. The proceedings examined the original trial's irregularities, including procedural flaws and political motivations tied to English influence. On July 7, 1456, the court issued a verdict declaring Joan innocent of heresy, nullifying the prior condemnation. This outcome restored her standing as a national heroine and set precedents for later canonization processes in the Catholic Church.
Why it matters: The acquittal immediately helped legitimize the French monarchy's narrative of divine support during the war's final phases and contributed to the erosion of English claims in France. Over centuries, it transformed Joan into a enduring symbol of resistance and faith, influencing French cultural identity and culminating in her sainthood in 1920.