As far as is known Jeanne D'Arc was born in the town of Domremy in the duchy of Bar, making her a subject of the Duc D'Bar, a title of Duke Charles of Lorraine and one inherited by Rene in 1430. She first impressed herself on history in 1429 when she appeared at the fortress of Vaucouleurs, a few miles up the Meuse from Domremy. Presenting herself to the commandant; she announced her "divine mission" ~~ to save France from the English invaders and insure that the dauphin, subsequently Charles VII, could be crowned king while sitting on the throne of France which was located in Orleans.
Jeanne was granted this audience with the duke at his capital in Nancy. When she arrived there, Rene D'Anjou is known to have been present. And when the duke of Lorraine asked her what she wished, she replied explicitly, in words that have perplexed historians for centuries, ~~ "Your son ( Rene ), ~~ a horse ~~ and some good men to take me to France"
Even during that time speculation was rife about Rene's relationship with Jeanne. Chroniclers disagree on this; but the fact remains that they knew each other and that Rene was present when Jeanne first embarked on her mission. Contemporary chroniclers maintain that when Jeanne departed for the dauphin's court at Chinon, Rene accompanied her and that he was at her side at the siege of Orleans. In the centuries that followed a systematic attempt seems to have been made to expunge all traces of Rene's possible role in Jeanne's life. But, that is a matter worthy of a different tale.
Other circumstances argue that Rene did accompany Jeanne to Chinon. For if there was any one dominant personality at Chinon at the time, that person was Iolande d'Anjou, Rene's mother. It was Iolande who provided the weak-willed French dauphin with incessant transfusions of morale. It was Iolande who appointed herself Jeanne's official patroness and sponsor. It was Iolande who overcame the court's resistance to allowing this young visionary
girl to accompany the French Army to Orleans. It was Iolande who convinced the young dauphin that Jeanne might well be the savior she claimed to be. It might also be noted here that it was Iolande that manipulated the French dauphins marriage to her own daughter, and Rene's sister, Marie.
The following year, after Jeanne had relieved the siege of Orléans and escorted the dauphin to Reims, René was present for the coronation of his brother-in-law as Charles VII on July 17, 1429. After the ceremony René was knighted by the count of Clermont.
René was always in need of a quest, so in true chivalric tradition, he began his adventures in the retinue of the maid of Orléans. In August of 1429 he was campaigning against the English with Charles VII and Jeanne; on August 15 he led the main battle at Senlis; in September he was one of Jeanne's captains at the siege of Paris. It was René, with the count of Clermont, who was sent by Charles VII to inform Jeanne that the siege of Paris was being withdrawn.
As history has well recorded Jeanne was subsequently captured and sold to the English who tried and convicted her of heresy and then executed her by burning at the stake. It is said that she held a small replica of the cross of Lorraine to her breast as she prepared to die.
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Joan of Arc, as per Grolier's Encyclopedia
C. Preston Guice
Jeanne was granted this audience with the duke at his capital in Nancy. When she arrived there, Rene D'Anjou is known to have been present. And when the duke of Lorraine asked her what she wished, she replied explicitly, in words that have perplexed historians for centuries, ~~ "Your son ( Rene ), ~~ a horse ~~ and some good men to take me to France" Even during that time speculation was rife about Rene's relationship with Jeanne. Chroniclers disagree on this; but the fact remains that they knew each other and that Rene was present when Jeanne first embarked on her mission. Contemporary chroniclers maintain that when Jeanne departed for the dauphin's court at Chinon, Rene accompanied her and that he was at her side at the siege of Orleans. In the centuries that followed a systematic attempt seems to have been made to expunge all traces of Rene's possible role in Jeanne's life. But, that is a matter worthy of a different tale.
Other circumstances argue that Rene did accompany Jeanne to Chinon. For if there was any one dominant personality at Chinon at the time, that person was Iolande d'Anjou, Rene's mother. It was Iolande who provided the weak-willed French dauphin with incessant transfusions of morale. It was Iolande who appointed herself Jeanne's official patroness and sponsor. It was Iolande who overcame the court's resistance to allowing this young visionary girl to accompany the French Army to Orleans. It was Iolande who convinced the young dauphin that Jeanne might well be the savior she claimed to be. It might also be noted here that it was Iolande that manipulated the French dauphins marriage to her own daughter, and Rene's sister, Marie.
The following year, after Jeanne had relieved the siege of Orléans and escorted the dauphin to Reims, René was present for the coronation of his brother-in-law as Charles VII on July 17, 1429. After the ceremony René was knighted by the count of Clermont.
René was always in need of a quest, so in true chivalric tradition, he began his adventures in the retinue of the maid of Orléans. In August of 1429 he was campaigning against the English with Charles VII and Jeanne; on August 15 he led the main battle at Senlis; in September he was one of Jeanne's captains at the siege of Paris. It was René, with the count of Clermont, who was sent by Charles VII to inform Jeanne that the siege of Paris was being withdrawn.
As history has well recorded Jeanne was subsequently captured and sold to the English who tried and convicted her of heresy and then executed her by burning at the stake. It is said that she held a small replica of the cross of Lorraine to her breast as she prepared to die.
Joan of Arc, as per Grolier's Encyclopedia