Joan of Arc was convinced she was hearing voices because she claimed to receive messages from saints, especially from the archangel Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret, who guided her in her mission to liberate France during the Hundred Years' War.
At the beginning of the 15th century, France is in the midst of the Hundred Years' War against the English, in a chaotic political context: the kingdom is divided among various political and military factions, with King Charles VII being questioned. In this very religious atmosphere, beliefs in God, Providence, and divine interventions in human lives are taken very seriously by society as a whole. The line between the supernatural and the ordinary is very blurred, and hearing holy voices or receiving apparitions is considered possible and credible. Jeanne herself grows up in this deeply Christian context, surrounded by stories of saints, miracles, and mystical appearances. The Catholic Church plays a central role in daily life, shaping beliefs, attitudes, and understanding of the world. It is within this framework, marked by strong spiritual expectations and a common mystical vision, that Jeanne begins to hear the voices that she attributes especially to Saint Catherine, Saint Margaret, and Saint Michael.
Scientists today believe that Joan of Arc may have suffered from certain psychological or neurological disorders. Among the most discussed hypotheses is temporal epilepsy, a specific form of epilepsy that sometimes triggers intense hallucinations and mystical experiences. Some also mention a possible form of schizophrenia, which often leads to clearly and distinctly heard voices, accompanied by a sense of absolute certainty. Additionally, there may be the role of a particular psychological context: Joan is described as an isolated, religious teenager under significant emotional pressure, which could have heightened a predisposition to hear these convincing voices. Autosuggestion may also have played a role, reinforcing her deep sense of divine mission.
In the 15th century, hearing voices could elicit two radically opposed reactions: sanctity or witchcraft. In this deeply religious era, voices and visions were often seen as divine signs, with God or the saints speaking directly to certain chosen individuals. But beware, everything depended on the context and the interpretation of religious authorities: a hallucination could also be viewed as the work of the devil. It was common for young women, in particular, to claim to hear holy voices and be initially respected, only to risk being declared heretics if it threatened the established power. Joan of Arc, for her part, constantly navigated between these two poles: alternately labeled a saint blessed by God and then questioned, suspected, and ultimately condemned for heresy before being rehabilitated in the following century. At that time, a validated religious vision could propel you to national heroine status, but a wrong interpretation could send you straight to the stake.
Jeanne claimed that she received direct orders from her divine voices regarding her military decisions. For example, they inspired her to go to Orléans, where her presence and strategic advice helped lift a crucial siege in just a few days. It was also under the influence of these voices that she set off for Reims to have Charles VII crowned, a decisive political move that significantly enhanced this king's credibility throughout the country. Whenever she hesitated or had to choose between several military or diplomatic options, Jeanne said she consulted her voices before making any final decision. It is clear that these voices truly influenced everything about her: from the choice of specific routes to the selection of troops to mobilize. For Jeanne, these divine voices, identified as those of Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret, were never questioned; they were her absolute compass for all her decisions.
Despite her youth and total lack of military experience, Joan managed to galvanize the demoralized French troops; many believed that this exceptional ability was proof of the divine origin of her visions.
Today, Joan of Arc is both a Christian saint celebrated by the Catholic Church, a French national heroine, and a central figure studied in psychology, demonstrating how the same experience can have multiple cultural and scientific interpretations.
Neuroscience suggests that auditory experiences like those of Joan of Arc may be linked to specific electrical discharges in certain areas of the brain, particularly the auditory cortex and the temporal lobes.
At the time of Joan of Arc, the medieval Church was cautious towards those claiming to hear divine voices: some were sanctified, while others were regarded as heretics; this context explains Joan's particular vulnerability during her trial.
The reactions to Joan's voices were varied: some authorities and supporters viewed them as divinely inspired, thereby reinforcing her legitimacy and military charisma. In contrast, her opponents and the judges of her trial condemned these voices as the product of the Devil or proof of heresy, using these accusations to discredit her and ultimately condemn her.
According to the transcripts of her trial, Joan claimed that her voices provided her with fairly specific instructions regarding her military and political actions, particularly about the need to free France from the English and to crown Charles VII in Reims. However, the exact degree of their precision remains open to various historical interpretations.
Contemporary specialists suggest that Joan of Arc may have suffered from auditory hallucinations due to certain conditions such as temporal epilepsy, a transient psychotic state, or a dissociative disorder related to the intense stress she was experiencing. However, there is no absolute medical certainty, only hypotheses based on historical and psychological analyses.
In the spiritual context of the 15th century, it was natural for a devout person like Joan to attribute unexplained phenomena to a divine or spiritual source. The appearance of saints such as Saint Catherine or Saint Michael, respected and popular figures of the time, can be explained by the strong religious influence of that period and her own cultural and spiritual background.
No. In the medieval period, hearing voices or having visions was often interpreted as a sign of divine or spiritual connection. Many mystics and religious figures reported similar experiences, which were generally accepted and valued within their cultural and religious context.
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