Jeanne d'Arc wore men's clothing because she was in a military context and preferred this outfit for reasons of security and practicality, in order to protect herself from attacks and blend in among male soldiers.
Traveling through war-torn territories was very dangerous, especially for a young woman. Wearing men's clothing allowed her to avoid assaults or abuse more easily during her travels. At the time, by dressing in men's attire, Jeanne could ride a horse properly, handle weapons, and move more freely during her military campaigns. It was simply more practical on a daily basis. Women's clothing—like long dresses—was totally unsuitable for combat and downright risky on the battlefield. In short, dressing like a man was a way for Jeanne to ensure her personal safety, her freedom of movement, and to be truly effective as a military leader.
At that time, France is in the midst of the Hundred Years' War, opposing England. The country is divided, weakened, with one part under English and Burgundian control, while the other remains loyal to King Charles VII. Joan of Arc arrives in a tense military context, where wearing armor and men's clothing is clearly an operational and strategic necessity. To ride a horse, lead troops, and integrate immediately with the soldiers, a dress is clearly not the best possible outfit. Men's clothing allows her to assert her authority, protect herself physically on the battlefield, and establish herself in front of men used to obeying warriors. These clothes were also a concrete way to affirm that she was indeed a credible military leader, directly supported by a divine mission, at a time when war was mainly reserved for men.
In Jeanne's time, seeing a woman wear men's clothing was anything but trivial. She clearly broke the codes, thus embodying a strong form of symbolic transgression. The men's attire expressed for many a kind of spiritual purity: Jeanne herself claimed that she was directly following divine orders, and that it was God who had asked her to wear those garments. This masculine appearance also meant that she claimed a special status, that of being directly commissioned by Heaven, outside the usual expectations reserved for women. Consequently, in the eyes of her supporters, Jeanne quickly became a living symbol of a divine will that disrupted the usual religious and social conventions. Conversely, for her detractors during her trial, this choice of clothing was perceived as a heretical act, reflecting a rebellion against the natural order imposed by God. Thus, Jeanne was seen by some as blessed and by others as cursed, all because (in part) of these simple men's clothes that ultimately carried significant symbolic weight.
During her trial in 1431, Joan of Arc's accusers fixated on her choice to wear men's clothing. In their eyes, wearing such garments was considered heresy and religious provocation, as it directly contradicted the norms established by the Church at that time. More clearly, it was seen as an attempt to openly challenge the prevailing religious and social order. Among the long list of accusations fabricated or exaggerated by her judges, the fact that Joan persisted in dressing as a man became one of the main charges against her. Even after signing an abjuration—a kind of public repentance—she quickly put on her men's clothes again once in prison, claiming she did so out of necessity to protect herself from assaults. Unfortunately, this courageous act cost her dearly, as it provided a perfect pretext to declare her a relapse (falling back into error) and send her to the stake.
Today, Joan of Arc's choice to wear male clothing is seen as an early form of female affirmation and independence in the face of the social obligations of her time. Many consider that she broke taboos, anticipating through her attitude the struggle for gender equality. Some modern historians emphasize this emancipatory aspect, viewing her as a key figure in the liberation of women from clothing constraints. Others primarily point to the pragmatic and safety aspects, not necessarily seeing it as a conscious act of rebellion, but rather as a logical adaptation to the hostile circumstances she faced. In contemporary popular imagination, Joan sometimes even inspires modern feminist movements, symbolically embodying the idea that clothing is primarily a reflection of individual identity, beyond traditional or religious constraints.
Joan of Arc put on her male clothing again in prison, notably to avoid assaults, after her guards had taken away her feminine garments, making this inevitable, which was nonetheless used against her by her accusers.
Jeanne's wearing of men's clothing was seen at the time as a major transgression of social and religious norms, thus exacerbating the accusations of heresy and witchcraft against her.
Do you know that Joan of Arc was not the only medieval woman to wear male clothing to lead a military life? Some women also made this choice for practical and protective reasons, although history has often forgotten them.
In reality, Jeanne never tried to hide her sexual identity: she openly affirmed her feminine identity while wearing male clothing in order to best fulfill her military and spiritual responsibilities.
Yes, there are several. For example, women like Hua Mulan in China, or Anne Bonny and Mary Read, pirates in the 18th century, also wore male clothing primarily for military, social, or safety reasons.
In the Middle Ages, wearing clothing of the opposite sex was considered a serious transgression of religious and social norms. It challenged the roles defined by medieval society and constituted one of the charges during their trial.
If Jeanne claimed that her choice of clothing was primarily based on practical reasons and divine will, several historians suggest that this choice was strongly encouraged or approved by her military entourage to enhance her credibility and safety.
During the trial, the ecclesiastical authorities accused Joan of heresy and defiance against the Church, particularly due to her repeated wearing of male clothing despite their explicit prohibitions of this practice, which was deemed immoral and contrary to religious laws.
The perception changed mainly from the 19th century onwards with Romanticism and in-depth historical studies that highlighted patriotic, military, and spiritual symbolism, until today, when Joan of Arc is generally seen as a heroic figure rather than a scandalous one.
No, Jeanne wore women's clothing before entering the military context and even returned to wearing a woman's outfit for a short period during her trial. The men's clothing was primarily a response to practical and safety requirements in a military environment.
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