Podcast Summary: This is History: A Dynasty to Die For

Episode: S9 E2 | Joan of Arc

Host: Dan Jones

Release Date: January 13, 2026

Overview

In this gripping episode, acclaimed historian Dan Jones explores the dramatic rise of Joan of Arc amid the chaos following the death of England’s warrior-king Henry V. With a baby (Henry VI) on England’s throne and French morale in ruins, a peasant girl from Domrémy emerges to turn the tide of the Hundred Years’ War. Jones dissects Joan’s legendary ascent, the state of Anglo-French conflict, the siege of Orléans, and the wider desperation gripping both nations. The episode concludes with a glance at the coronation of the child king, the capture of Joan, and tantalizing hints about the future.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Joan of Arc: Unlikely Savior (02:14–06:30)

• Setting the Stage: The armorers in Chinon Castle are baffled to be fitting plate armor for a teenage girl—Joan.
• Her Arrival: Joan, an illiterate, short-haired, “gender-bending” peasant girl, claims divine guidance to support the Dauphin, Charles.
• Virgin in Arms: Emphasis is put on Joan’s virginity and mystical prophecy, checked and confirmed by clergy and respected women, all evoking a sense of destiny.
• French Desperation: “Right now, the French will take a hero in whatever form he or she comes.” (Dan Jones, 05:22)

Joan’s Iconic Legacy (06:31–08:35)

• Iconic Status: Jones compares Joan to figureheads in Bill & Ted, discussing her limited but meteoric “career” that makes her a cultural and artistic obsession for centuries.
  • “She is a gender-bending confection of womanly virtue…the virginal teenage girl and masculine tropes: armour, choppy haircut, lots of blood and thunder.” (Dan Jones, 07:30)
• Superhero Parallel: Joan is likened to a superhero—“just has the power of belief and the certainty that she’s been visited in her dreams by heavenly beings.”

The Hundred Years’ War after Henry V (08:36–14:10)

• English Strength: After Henry V’s death, the regency in France falls to John, Duke of Bedford.
  • Bedford is painted as an “underrated…hyper-competent politician” who maintains a strong English grip on Paris, Rouen, and key French fortresses.
• Propaganda Wars: Bedford launches “hearts and minds” campaigns with elaborate family trees and poems linking Henry VI’s claim to both French and English royalty.
• Reluctant French Subjects: Despite military dominance, the French remain passionate resisters of English rule:
  • “The French can be beaten on the battlefield and spoon fed all the propaganda in the world. But they're always going to have a hard time loving English occupation. Like Bonnie Tyler, they're holding out for a hero.” (Dan Jones, 13:25)

The Siege of Orléans and Joan’s Battlefield Triumph (14:58–19:34)

• Orléans Besieged: English ambitions reach their limit at Orléans in 1428–29. Leadership falters after the death of Salisbury from a cannonball wound, damaging morale.
• Joan’s Arrival: Joan leads the relief army, clad in male armor on a white horse, carrying a flag, and issuing proclamations as God’s messenger:
  • "Men of England who have no right in this kingdom of France. The King of Heaven orders and commands you through me, Joan the pucelle...to abandon your strongholds and go back to your own country." (Dan Jones, quoting Joan, 18:39)
• Miraculous Victory: Her appearance invigorates the French, leading to the lifting of the siege in just ten days. The victory at Patay soon after further shatters English positions.
  • “Within 10 days of Joan arriving, the English are fleeing Orléans in disarray.” (Dan Jones, 18:21)
• Crowning of Charles VII: In July 1429, Joan escorts the Dauphin to Reims for a coronation that shatters English hopes of holding France.

England’s Desperate Response: Crowning the Boy King (20:04–23:55)

• Henry VI’s Coronation: A “somber” coronation is staged in London for the seven-year-old king as a counter-move to Charles’s anointing.
  • “Of course, if anyone had a choice, they very likely would not be crowning a seven year old boy. But the English…don't really have a choice.” (Dan Jones, 21:21)
• Royal Pageantry and Propaganda: The celebration at Westminster is replete with fleur-de-lis and a poetic declaration of Henry’s double descent.
  • “Born by descent and right of title, justly to reign in England and in France. Well, justly is a matter for debate.” (Dan Jones, quoting coronation poem, 22:08)
• Crossing into War-torn France: Henry is shipped to Calais, then Rouen, but the road to Paris is blocked by ongoing conflict. He’s stranded for over a year.

Joan’s Fate and Catherine’s Secret (23:56–End)

• The Fall of an Icon: During the protracted pauses in Henry’s progress, Joan is captured and brought to trial in Rouen, signaling a dramatic reversal for the French cause and the iconic heroine.
• Catherine de Valois’ Departure: Henry’s mother returns to England, pregnant—teased as a major subplot for the next episode.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Joan’s Impact:
  • “What [Joan] does do is burst into a war that's been raging for almost a century and apparently single handedly change its whole direction.” (Dan Jones, 07:07)
• On Propaganda and National Mythmaking:
  • “Bedford is waging a campaign of war, but also looking for hearts and minds.” (Dan Jones, 11:56)
• On the Need for a Hero:
  • "Like Bonnie Tyler, they're holding out for a hero. So when Joan of Arc comes along in 1429, they're more than ready to embrace.” (Dan Jones, 13:25)
• On the Crowning of Henry VI:
  • “If anyone’s thought about whether that’s like a good omen, they don’t seem to show it.” (Dan Jones, 20:32)

Episode Timeline

| Timestamp | Segment | |:--------------:|----------------------------------------------------------| | 02:14–06:30 | The Armorer and Joan’s Arrival | | 06:31–08:35 | Joan as Historical Icon | | 08:36–14:10 | The Political Landscape After Henry V | | 14:58–19:34 | The Siege and Relief of Orléans; Joan’s Military Impact | | 20:04–23:55 | Coronation of Henry VI; English Response | | 23:56–End | Joan’s Capture; Catherine de Valois’ Pregnancy Teased |

Tone & Style

Dan Jones’ storytelling is brisk, vivid, and irreverent, peppered with modern analogies—quoting Bonnie Tyler and Bill & Ted—to make medieval history pop. The language is witty (“world class omnishambles”), accessible (“gender-bending confection”), yet deeply informed by historical nuance.

For Further Listening

• Deeper dives into Joan and other icons are available in the show’s Patreon bonus episodes (as teased multiple times).
• Mentioned past episodes covering Agincourt, Crécy, and earlier phases in the Plantagenet saga.

Summary:
This episode highlights how, against a backdrop of national desperation and war-weary France, Joan of Arc’s miraculous intervention reset the terms of the Hundred Years’ War—placing her among history’s most compelling figures and throwing dynastic politics into chaos on both sides of the Channel. The intrigue is set to escalate with Joan’s downfall and Catherine de Valois’ mysterious pregnancy.