(A.D. 1505.)
[French Martyrology. The process of her canonization began under
Clement XII., and was completed by Pius VI. in 1775; but she was
venerated at Bourges from the time of her death.]
Before Louis the son of Charles VII, ascended the throne of France,
his wife, Charlotte of Savoy, bore him a daughter, called Anne of
France. When he succeeded his father, with the title of Louis XI., he
desired greatly to become the father of a son, and when his wife
became pregnant in the third year after his coronation, his hopes were
at the highest. When, however, she gave birth to a daughter, his
disgust manifested itself in bitter antipathy towards the child, who
was baptized Jeanne, or Joan. When she was eight days old, she was
betrothed, May 19th, 1464, according to the custom of the time, to
Louis, son of the Duke of Orleans and Mary of Cleaves, and sent to the
house of her father and mother-in-law. At the expiration of four
years, she was ordered to appear before her father at Plessis-le-Tours,
where she was received by her mother with love, but when she was
brought before her father, Louis turned from her with contempt,
saying, "Bah! I did not think she was so ugly;" and he thrust her
away. She was in fact somewhat deformed, and plain in face. It will be
remembered that Sir Walter Scott has introduced her into his novel of
Quentin Durward, taking, however, considerable liberties with her
history. To such an extent did the spite of the king manifest itself,
that when he saw how devout his daughter was, and that in her
loneliness, she found comfort in the House of God, he forbade her
frequenting churches and even the castle chapel.
When Joan was six years old, a son was born to Louis XI., and this was
to her a day of good fortune, for her brother became her friend and
protector; and because she was now once more permitted to frequent the
churches. Louis XI. then visited Paris, to thank God for the birth of
his son. Joan was in the splendid retinue which on this occasion
entered the cathedral church of Notre Dame. She cast herself before an
image of Our Lady, and taking her gold crown from her head, besought
the holy Virgin to be her protector. Then a voice made itself heard in
her soul, "My daughter, thou shalt found an Order in mine honour!"
The dislike of Louis XI. for Joan increased every day: the Countess of
Linières was allowed to treat her with gross contempt; and the king,
once so far forgot himself as to rush into her room sword in hand, and
threaten to kill her. The Count of Linières threw himself between the
king and his daughter, and saved her life, but could not prevent her
receiving a wound, the scar of which never disappeared. The king
retired in shame, and for a while gave her greater liberty.
In her twelfth year Joan was married, against her will, to Duke Louis
of Orleans; however she fulfilled her duties, as wife, to the best of
her ability. But her husband, who had married her for political
reasons, made no scruple of treating her with coldness and contempt;
deserting her almost entirely, that he might spend his time amidst the
pleasures of the court, scornfully remarking that there was no risk to
his honour in leaving his young bride unprotected, as her diminutive
stature and plain face would be her defence.
Louis XI. died in August, 1483, and his son succeeded him, as Charles
VIII., under the regency of his elder sister Anne, who was married to
Peter of Bourbon. The husband of Joan, thinking that the regency ought
to have been entrusted to him, endeavoured to stir up an insurrection;
but was unsuccessful; and knowing that his life was threatened, fled
to Duke Francis II. of Brittany, the bitter foe of France, and entered
into league with him against Charles VIII. War broke out, and Joan
stood as an angel of peace and reconciliation between the contending
parties. Twice she obtained pardon for her captured and imprisoned
husband, and as often he returned to his perfidy,--once against his
sovereign, and once against his wife.
After the death of Charles VIII., on April 7th, 1498, the Duke of
Orleans ascended the throne, as Louis XII. He at once obtained a
divorce from Pope Alexander VI., by taking an oath that his marriage
with Joan was not complete. Joan offered no opposition, rejoicing to
see herself at liberty; and her husband at once concluded another
marriage with Anne of Brittany, the widow of the young king. As some
recompence to his divorced wife, Louis XII. gave her the Duchy of
Berry, besides Pontoise, and other townships. She resided at Bourges,
where she spent her time in the exercise of charity, to which she
devoted her large revenues.
In 1500, she founded the order of the Annunciation, for women. S. Joan
took the habit herself in 1504, but died on the 4th of February, 1505;
and was buried at Bourges. Her body was torn from its resting place,
in 1562, and burned by the Calvinists.