Joan of Arc Naming History — Investigation

Status: Open Triggered by: docs/OUTSTANDING_QUESTIONS.md — “Maid of Orleans” called “Joan of Arc” only from second half of 16th century; what was she called before?

Claim

The name “Joan of Arc” (Jeanne d’Arc) may be a later attribution. Contemporary or near-contemporary sources may use a different name or title. Establishing the naming history clarifies whether the figure was reframed or renamed during Reformation-era redaction.

Methodology

• Survey primary sources (trial records, chronicles, letters) for how she was named at the time.
• Identify when “Jeanne d’Arc” / “Joan of Arc” first appears in print or record.
• Document “Maid of Orleans” and other epithets and their chronology.
• Add findings to OUTSTANDING_QUESTIONS and to timeline article 09.01.01 (Jeanne d’Arc execution) if relevant.

Findings

(To be populated.)

References

• docs/OUTSTANDING_QUESTIONS.md
• content/09.ce-15th-ottoman-conquest-of-europe/09.01.01-1431-ce-jeanne-darc-is-executed.md

Next Steps

• Library search: trial documents, 15th–16th c. chronicles.
• Compile first attestation of “d’Arc” and “Joan of Arc” in French and English sources.

Keywords: #Naming #Joan #Arc