Scène de la reconnaissance de Jeanne d'Arc par Charles VII
Scène de la reconnaissance de Jeanne d'Arc par Charles VII

1429

Joan of Arc came to meet Charles VII at the Royal Fortress of Chinon. This famous episode of the Joan of Arc epic is generally described as a mythical and miraculous scene: "The Recognition".

Joan of Arc came to meet Charles VII at the Royal Fortress of Chinon. This famous episode of the Joan of Arc epic is generally described as a mythical and miraculous scene: "The Recognition".

This was not the case, because there were not one, but two interviews in Chinon. The first one took place on 25 February 1429, two days after Joan's arrival. She was led to the apartments of the king where he received her with a small committee. She was housed in the Coudray Tower. Then Charles VII sent her to Poitiers so that his advisers and doctors of theology could judge her good faith. On her return, Joan was again received by the king, between 27 March and 5 April 1429. This second hearing, called the "sign", took on the official and public aspect that is generally attributed to the first interview.

It marked the end of the Poitiers investigation and served as the official presentation of Joan to the court.