IN THE PLACE DU MARTROI, ORLÉANS, FRANCE
JOAN OF ARC, BY FOYATIER
THE CORONATION OF CHARLES VII
Monograph Number Four in The Mentor Reading Course
After Joan of Arc had beaten the English at Pathay, she wanted to carry out her plan to have Charles VII crowned King of France in the Cathedral at Rheims. But Charles was badly advised. His counselors were lazy and cowardly, and they told him that it was unsafe for him to attempt to go to Rheims.
But at last he decided to march there with his army, and on July 16, 1429, he entered the city. The next day Charles was crowned King of France, while Joan stood beside him holding her sacred banner.
When the coronation was over, Joan knelt at the king's feet and said, "Gentle King, now is the will of God fulfilled."
Charles wished to reward her and asked what she wanted. She said that her only wish was that Domrémy, her native village, should ever after be free from taxes. Her wish was granted.
The next plan of the Maid was to capture Paris from the English. But she received no assistance from the king and his followers. He did not want to make war; for he hoped to gain the friendship of the Duke of Burgundy. Finally, however, Charles was persuaded to go to a little town called St. Denis (Song-Den-ee), which is near Paris. But he was not much help.