Nuffield Theatre

Tuesday 12^th to Saturday 16^th October 1971

HISTORICAL NOTE:

In 1420 the Treaty of Troyes rounded off the latest phase of the Hundred Years War by disinheriting the Dauphin and placing most of northern France either under English occupation or under the rule of England's ally, the Duke of Burgundy. By 1429 the Dauphin, Charles VII, had established his exiled court at Chinon. Charles was uncertain of his legitimacy, his government was inefficient, and morale in the southern provinces was verging on panic since the beginning of the English siege of Orleans. This was the situation when Joan of Arc came to Chinon in February of that year: within six months she had accomplished her mission of raising the siege of Orleans and marching victoriously to Rheims for Charles's coronation. The moral effect of this triumph was enormous, but this was the end of Joan's success. The French assault of Paris failed, and in May 1430 Joan was captured by the English, who decided to discredit Charles by trying her for witchcraft at Rouen.