Today in Labor History May 30, 1431: Teenage peasant soldier and crossdresser, Joan of Ark, was burned at the stake by an English tribunal, in part for the “blasphemy” of wearing men’s clothes. After her arrest, her male attire was taken from her and she was forced to sign a document (which she may not have understood) declaring she would no longer cross dress. But when her captors returned her men’s attire, to test her will, she promptly put the clothes back on. During her trial, she vowed, 'For nothing in the world will I swear not to arm myself and put on a man's dress.'" Twenty-fiver years later, Pope Callixtus III declared her a martyr. In 1909, they beatified her and they granted her sainthood in 1920. She rose to prominence during the Hundred Years’ War, which was essentially a feud between competing monarchies (French and English) that left the peasants poor, hungry and at risk of being slaughtered. England had been winning the war and had almost gained control over France when Joan of Ark decided to intervene. She had been having religious visions and was convinced that only she could turn things around for France. She travelled to Chinon to meet King Charles, disguised as a male soldier, which later led to charges of cross-dressing. Convincing the King to turn the conflict into a religious war, she led his troops in the Battle of Orleans. By many contemporary accounts, it was her military advice that won the battle. However, by her own words, she never killed a man, preferring to carry the banner “forty times better” than a sword. In the centuries after her death, she became legendary.

#WorkingClass #LaborHistory #peasant #JoanOfArc #transvestite #crossdress #transphobia #catholic #poverty #feminism

Hat jemand Interesse an dem Joan of Arc Scenario Collection Book (Hardcover) für das #JoanOfArc #Boardgame? Würd es gerne gegen (alten) Rollenspielstuff #tauschen (z.B. ein Kaufabenteuer, alles AUSSER #DSA). Der Szenarienband stammt aus dem Kickstarter, bei dem ich vor gefühlt 765 Jahren mitgemacht habe. Szenarienband + Karten + Revised Rules + Würfel kam dann viel später. Das Originalspiel habe ich längst weitergegeben. Fands gut, aber zu unwieldy. So viel Plastik. #pnpde #Tauschbörse

Shout out to Mastodon for allowing longer character limits so I’m allowed to ramble about my most embarrassing memories in a public setting without needing to try to remember what early 2000s Midwest emo song lyric I could have possibly used for my livejournal password.
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