The court initially wanted to convict her of witchcraft, but upon examination they found she was still a virgin, and people believed that to be a witch one had to have had sex with the devil. So, since Joan of Arc was still a virgin, the court couldn't try her for witchcraft, and tried her for heresy instead.
Joan of Arc was also convicted of heresy because the English and Burgundians wanted Joan dead for her successful efforts in leading the french against her, and so that she could not escape and lead the French in more successful campaigns, and because her death would severely demoralize French troops. The trial and conviction of heresy were orchestrated so that Joan could be killed.
Clarification:
The court could find nothing in Joan's testimony that could convict her of heresy. Instead, the bishop in charge found an obscure mandate in the Old Testament that forbade women from wearing men's clothing. The bishop had Joan sign a document in which she promised to never dress like a man again. At night British authorities removed all of the female clothing from Joan's cell and left her with nothing to wear but men's items. When she appeared in court the next day, the Bishop told her that she had violated her agreement and found her guilty of heresy.
Technically, Joan was accused of being a witch and heretic. In reality, the British had been embarrassed and humiliated by Joan's victories and they wanted her dead. They also felt that the French army would become disheartened if Joan were executed.
She was burned alive at the stake as a heretic.
Joan of Arc was a woman who was a great military leader. That was a problem because she was in a very male dominant society. She was burned at the stake for being a witch even though it was really just because of her great accomplishments.
Yes, Joan was found to have been a heretic as she had worn men's clothing that was forbidden in the Old Testament.
The French accussed Joan of being a heretic because she claimed that god told her how to defeat the English army near Orleans.
Joan was never accused as being a witch but as a heretic.
Joan was accused by the British of being a witch and a heretic.
Technically, Joan was accused of being a witch and heretic. In reality, the British had been embarrassed and humiliated by Joan's victories and they wanted her dead. They also felt that the French army would become disheartened if Joan were executed.
God knew that Joan was a martyr and not a heretic so I am sure that Joan's soul went directly to heaven.
She was burned alive at the stake as a heretic.
Joan of Arc was a woman who was a great military leader. That was a problem because she was in a very male dominant society. She was burned at the stake for being a witch even though it was really just because of her great accomplishments.
Saint Joan of Arc - However, she was executed for being a heretic, not a witch.
Yes, Joan was found to have been a heretic as she had worn men's clothing that was forbidden in the Old Testament.
Actually she was tried as a heretic and as being defiant because she wore men's clothing.
The French accussed Joan of being a heretic because she claimed that god told her how to defeat the English army near Orleans.
Joan was burned at the stake as a heretic on May 30, 1431, at Rouen, France.
Saint Joan of Arc