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Primary document

The Trial of Joan of Arc, 1431

Fordham University Medieval Sourcebook

Where this source supports the record

Each entry separates the article’s editorial relevance note from its exact, section-level claims. A bibliography link without a direct claim is labeled plainly.

  1. Historic crimes & investigations · 9 January-30 May 1431

    Trial and Execution of Joan of Arc

    Place du Vieux-Marché execution site · France

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    Why editors use it here

    Translated selections from the condemnation record documenting the court's questions, Joan's answers, the abjuration, and sentence.

    1. Quick read

      In 1431, an ecclesiastical court at English-controlled Rouen prosecuted Joan of Arc after her capture and transfer to English custody.

      Reviewed 5 August 2026
    2. Trigger and conditions

      Preliminary inquiries began in January 1431, followed by public and private sessions in which judges repeatedly questioned Joan without a defense advocate.

      Reviewed 5 August 2026
    3. Uncertainty

      The extensive trial record preserves mediated Latin and French versions rather than an unaltered transcript of every spoken exchange.

      Reviewed 5 August 2026
    4. Why it matters

      The case shows how law, theology, occupation, gender expectations, and military power can converge in a prosecution.

      Reviewed 5 August 2026