Scott Alexander (author/host)

It's not wholly clear why de Baudricourt did this.

The state of affairs of the Armagnac faction was certainly desperate.

And yes, there were rumours that, quote, it had been prophesied that France shall be lost by a woman and restored by a virgin from the Lorraine marches.

End quote.

But when you really think about it, what are the odds it's this virgin?

How does he even know she is a virgin?

Even in the Middle Ages, they knew most prophecies were fake, because you could go around just claiming anything you felt like was a prophecy.

Maybe it's just charisma.

That might explain what happened next, which is that the knight who took her had planned on raping her along the way, just on general principles, but somehow he couldn't do it.

End quote.

There's a footnote here.

They said in the beginning they wanted to require her to lie with them carnally, but when the moment came to speak to her of this, there was so much ashamed that they dared not speak of it to her, nor say a word of it.

Back to the text.

And so, dodging men at arms as they went on the assumption that they were probably hostile to everyone just by default, they made their way to the Dauphin's court.

2.2.

Thou art true heir of France and king's son.

The story of her arrival at the Dauphin's temporary capital in Chinon is legendary.

Even people who know very little about Joan of Arc have often heard about it.

It's one of the most famous scenes of her life, a subject of paintings and stories.

Age of Empires II practically starts with it.