IMPORTANT PEOPLE
Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc was the daughter of a farmer and grew up as a pious child. She was a national heroine and is recognized for having France win the Hundred Years of War. She had her first vision at the age of 13 when she claimed to have heard the voice of God in her father’s garden and was then on approached by St. Catherine, Margaret and Michael the Archangel. The voices she heard, commanded her to crown Charles as the King. She was granted support by the board of Roman Catholic Church and was sent to Tours to assemble an army. Dressed in white men’s armor she stormed Bastille of Augustine and later after the victory, stood by Charles’s side as the Maid of Orleans crowned him King on July 14. She was later glorified as a noble on recognition of what she had done for her country by following successful routes of the British.
Joan led a campaign against the British, who wanted to destroy her influence and discredit Charles. She was taken prisoner in January 1431. The interrogation went on for about 14 months where she was found guilty of 12 counts. She was condemned as a fake and was burned at the stake in the Old Market Square in Rouen on May 30. As she was engulfed in flames, she kept gazing at a cross she held in her hands and cried out “Jesus”. Ironically, the judgment that caused her death was annulled in 1456 and Joan was canonized by Pope Benedict in 1920. She is now honored forever as the patron saint of France.
Joan led a campaign against the British, who wanted to destroy her influence and discredit Charles. She was taken prisoner in January 1431. The interrogation went on for about 14 months where she was found guilty of 12 counts. She was condemned as a fake and was burned at the stake in the Old Market Square in Rouen on May 30. As she was engulfed in flames, she kept gazing at a cross she held in her hands and cried out “Jesus”. Ironically, the judgment that caused her death was annulled in 1456 and Joan was canonized by Pope Benedict in 1920. She is now honored forever as the patron saint of France.
King John
King John was born in 1167 and was one of the most controversial monarchs of Medieval England, is distinctly associated with the signing of the Magna Carte in 1215. John was the youngest son of Henry II and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine. John had a reputation for violent rages, like his father, which led to the foaming of his mouth. He was nick-named John Lackland, because his father did not leave any land for him when he died. In 1189, when Henry died, all his territory went to his oldest son, Richard I who was better known as Richard Lionheart.
In 1191, Richard left England on the Third Crusade, John was in charge of the country. John tried to seize the crown from his brother but failed. In 1194, when Richard finally returned to England, John was forgiven by his brother.
John became the King of England In 1199, when Richard was killed in France. His reign started with him being accused of his nephew, Arthur of Brittany’s murder. When faced with a rebellion from Brittany, John led his army and had to face defeat, which earned him a new nickname-John Softsword. He had to pay for the defeat, which led to the increase of taxes and in turn made him very unpopular and the object of hatred amongst his people.
He went against the Pope’s wishes on the choice of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Along with this disagreement came the Pope’s order that no christening or marriage would be legal until the time the pope said that they would be. In 1213, John had to surrender to the spiritual well-being of the whole country to the pope. John also lost another battle to the French at Bouvines, this defeat resulted in England losing all her possession in France. The barons could not take anymore of John’s flaws and wanted a common agreement on their rights and laws that governed them. In 1214, they rebelled against the King and John was forced to sign the Magna Carte in 1215, which guaranteed the people of England rights that the king could not go back on. By 1216, John was ill and soon died. He was succeeded by Henry III.
In 1191, Richard left England on the Third Crusade, John was in charge of the country. John tried to seize the crown from his brother but failed. In 1194, when Richard finally returned to England, John was forgiven by his brother.
John became the King of England In 1199, when Richard was killed in France. His reign started with him being accused of his nephew, Arthur of Brittany’s murder. When faced with a rebellion from Brittany, John led his army and had to face defeat, which earned him a new nickname-John Softsword. He had to pay for the defeat, which led to the increase of taxes and in turn made him very unpopular and the object of hatred amongst his people.
He went against the Pope’s wishes on the choice of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Along with this disagreement came the Pope’s order that no christening or marriage would be legal until the time the pope said that they would be. In 1213, John had to surrender to the spiritual well-being of the whole country to the pope. John also lost another battle to the French at Bouvines, this defeat resulted in England losing all her possession in France. The barons could not take anymore of John’s flaws and wanted a common agreement on their rights and laws that governed them. In 1214, they rebelled against the King and John was forced to sign the Magna Carte in 1215, which guaranteed the people of England rights that the king could not go back on. By 1216, John was ill and soon died. He was succeeded by Henry III.
Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine
Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine was beautiful, highborn, powerful at the same time tireless, intelligent and ambitious.She was the Queen of France from 1137-1151, and the Queen of England from 1154-1189.
For eighty years Eleanor occupied center stage of medieval Europe. As the Duchess of Aquitaine, she first married King Louis VII of France and had two daughters with him. Unfortunately, their marriage broke and she was granted annulment soon after. Later, she fell in love and married King Henry II of England, France’s enemy. The two had five sons and three daughters. But soon, her husband’s infidelities strained their relationship and shifted her passion from him towards her sons, whom she supported in their power struggles with Henry. In 1170 she established her own court in Poitiers, and she kept her constant encouragement and support for her sons in their rebellion against their father.
She was imprisoned for 16 years by her husband in order to stop her from her troublesome activities against him. But, there was no stopping Eleanor and her maneuver and plots continued. She came out of prison before four years of Henry’s death. She lived to witness her beloved son Richard take the throne, who soon died and she ensured that her youngest son, John succeeded the throne. She was ready to battle at the age of eighty. Her last adventure was the overthrowing of her nephew Arthur, who was in fight with John for the English throne. She once again emerged triumphant.
Eleanor died at eighty-two, a great and phenomenal queen who left an awesome record as one of the bravest, most powerful and glamorous women of all times.
For eighty years Eleanor occupied center stage of medieval Europe. As the Duchess of Aquitaine, she first married King Louis VII of France and had two daughters with him. Unfortunately, their marriage broke and she was granted annulment soon after. Later, she fell in love and married King Henry II of England, France’s enemy. The two had five sons and three daughters. But soon, her husband’s infidelities strained their relationship and shifted her passion from him towards her sons, whom she supported in their power struggles with Henry. In 1170 she established her own court in Poitiers, and she kept her constant encouragement and support for her sons in their rebellion against their father.
She was imprisoned for 16 years by her husband in order to stop her from her troublesome activities against him. But, there was no stopping Eleanor and her maneuver and plots continued. She came out of prison before four years of Henry’s death. She lived to witness her beloved son Richard take the throne, who soon died and she ensured that her youngest son, John succeeded the throne. She was ready to battle at the age of eighty. Her last adventure was the overthrowing of her nephew Arthur, who was in fight with John for the English throne. She once again emerged triumphant.
Eleanor died at eighty-two, a great and phenomenal queen who left an awesome record as one of the bravest, most powerful and glamorous women of all times.
King Henry I
King Henry’s reign lasted from 1100-1135. He also was nicknamed Henry Beauclere, which meant fine scholar. He belonged to a Norman decent and as the youngest of four sons he was expected to become a bishop. His father was William the Conqueror, his mother was Queen Matilda of Flanders. He had three brothers; King William Rufus: Robert, and Richard who died young. He was crowned as King on 5 August 1100 at Westminster. His first wife was Edith, the daughter of Malcolm Greathead, King of Scotland, and of lady of the old English royal line. They had two children William Adelin and Maude. His second wife was Adeliza, daughter of Godfrey I of Leuven, they were childless.
He successfully reunited England and Normandy after their separation on his father’s death in 1087. He also granted the baronage a Charter of Liberties, which linked his rule to the Anglo-Saxon tradition and also presaged the Magna Carta which limited the King’s powers. His reign was also a period of peace and prosperity in England and Normandy, filled with judicial and financial reforms. He sorted out the differences between them and broke down the tensions which were built during his father’s time. He made peace with the church after the disputes of his brother’s reign and struggles.
King Henry, Beauclere, died in December 1135 at St. Denis le Fermont in Normandy. His death was caused by eating too much of the fish called lamprey, and he was buried in Reading Abbey. He was the king ‘who would let no one break the laws, but himself’. He was very shrewd, tough, ambitious and brutal. During his reign, he accomplished and achieved a lot and was famous for restoring the English laws of King Edward the Confessor.
He successfully reunited England and Normandy after their separation on his father’s death in 1087. He also granted the baronage a Charter of Liberties, which linked his rule to the Anglo-Saxon tradition and also presaged the Magna Carta which limited the King’s powers. His reign was also a period of peace and prosperity in England and Normandy, filled with judicial and financial reforms. He sorted out the differences between them and broke down the tensions which were built during his father’s time. He made peace with the church after the disputes of his brother’s reign and struggles.
King Henry, Beauclere, died in December 1135 at St. Denis le Fermont in Normandy. His death was caused by eating too much of the fish called lamprey, and he was buried in Reading Abbey. He was the king ‘who would let no one break the laws, but himself’. He was very shrewd, tough, ambitious and brutal. During his reign, he accomplished and achieved a lot and was famous for restoring the English laws of King Edward the Confessor.