10.5    Rise of New Monarchies/ · Part 4

fought to retain and retrieve the French territories from English control. There was what is called the Hundred Years’ War between England and France from early in the fourteenth century to the middle of the fifteenth century. In this war, the French king Charles VII was helped by Joan of Arc, a young girl who fought courageously and won the battle at Orleans. Joan of Arc was given the title Maid of Orleans. However, she was captured by the English and tried by the court for her claim that she was guided by heavenly voices. She was condemned as a witch and burnt at the stakes in . (In , the Catholic Church conferred sainthood on her.) After the death of Joan of Arc, the French continued the Hundred Years’ War and emerged victorious. Having got the English out of his country, Louis XI, son of Charles VII, turned to Burgundy. This troublesome vassal was finally brought under control and Burgundy became part of France in about . France became a strong centralised monarchy. Louis XI strengthened and unified France. For the first time in the history of France, a permanent army was created for the monarch without relying on the support from the nobles. His Royal Council had more lawyers than nobles, thus undermining the influence of the nobles in the royal affairs.