"King of England, and you, duke of Bedford, who call yourself regent of the kingdom of France... settle your debt to the king of Heaven; return to the Maiden, who is envoy of the king of Heaven, the keys to all the good towns you took and violated in France"
- Joan of Arc
About this Quote
In this quote, Joan of Arc, an essential figure in the Hundred Years' War, addresses the King of England and the Duke of Bedford. She challenges their authority and actions in France, advising them to acknowledge and resolve what she views as transgressions versus both earthly and divine orders.
First of all, by referring to the King of England and the Duke of Bedford, Joan targets the main leaders responsible for England's military and political actions in France. The Duke of Bedford, functioning as the regent of the English-held areas in France, is particularly linked. Joan's address is both a political obstacle and a spiritual rebuke, suggesting that their claims over French lands do not have ethical authenticity.
Joan's reference of the "king of Heaven" puts her objective and the French cause within a divine context. She positions herself and her efforts as divinely approved, suggesting that the English forces are acting versus God's will. This invocation of divine authority serves to raise her message beyond simple political rhetoric, casting the struggle for French liberation as a holy endeavor.
The phrase "settle your financial obligation" recommends that the English leaders have wrongfully obtained lands and owe remuneration, not just to France however to God. By framing the dispute in terms of spiritual financial obligation, Joan highlights the ethical and ethical measurements of the English profession. Her need that the English return the "keys to all the excellent towns" underscores the level of the perceived oppression and the need for restitution.
Finally, Joan provides herself as "the Maiden", an envoy of divine authority, enhancing her role as a prophetic and figured out leader. The choice of language reflects her confidence in her divine objective and serves to weaken the English claim by painting it as both unjust and ungodly. Overall, Joan's message is a powerful mix of political defiance, ethical censure, and religious conviction.