Joan of Arc’s Imprisonment and Transfer to…
1430 CE
Joan of Arc’s Imprisonment and Transfer to English Custody (1430)
After her capture at Compiègne on May 23, 1430, Joan of Arc was imprisoned by the Burgundians at Beaurevoir Castle, where she remained under close watch. Desperate to escape, she made several attempts, including a daring leap from a 70-foot (21-meter) tower, landing in the dry moat below. Though she survived, she was recaptured and moved to Arras.
Meanwhile, the English negotiated with their Burgundian allies for Joan’s transfer, led by Bishop Pierre Cauchon of Beauvais, an English partisan who would later preside over her trial.
After lengthy discussions, Jean de Luxembourg, a Burgundian noble and member of Duke Philip the Good’s Council, agreed to sell Joan to the English for 10,000 livres tournois.
I. Joan’s Imprisonment at Beaurevoir Castle
- Joan was held at Beaurevoir Castle by Jean de Luxembourg, a powerful Burgundian noble and close advisor to Philip the Good.
- She attempted multiple escapes, including:
- Jumping from a 70-foot (21-meter) tower, landing in a dry moat.
- Though she survived, she was severely shaken and recaptured.
II. The English Negotiations for Her Transfer
- The English, eager to take custody of Joan, saw her as a major threat to their claim to France.
- Bishop Pierre Cauchon of Beauvais, a staunch English ally, played a leading role in the negotiations.
- After prolonged bargaining, Jean de Luxembourg agreed to sell Joan to the English for 10,000 livres tournois.
III. The Final Transfer to English Custody
- Joan was moved from Arras and handed over to the English in November 1430.
- The English prepared for her trial, with Bishop Cauchon leading the legal proceedings, aiming to discredit her and Charles VII.
IV. Consequences: The Path to Joan’s Trial and Execution
- With Joan now in English hands, she was no longer a military threat but instead became a political pawn.
- The English sought to convict her of heresy, intending to undermine Charles VII’s legitimacy as king.
- This transfer sealed Joan’s fate, leading directly to her infamous trial in Rouen (1431) and her execution by burning at the stake.
Joan of Arc’s imprisonment at Beaurevoir, her failed escape, and her transfer to English custody marked the beginning of the end of her heroic journey, as the English prepared to use her trial as a political weapon.
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