We all know the story of the plucky French heroine Joan of Arc who led the French armies against England only to be betrayed. Her claim to be guided by divine voices led to a charge of heresy and Joan’s execution by burning at the stake. Her life is almost mirrored in that of a later African female rebel leader, Kimpa Vita – a woman who took on the might of the Portuguese Empire.
Joan of Arc – voices, armies, and heresy
From the age of 13, Joan of Arc (c.1412-1431) – a French peasant girl – claimed to hear voices and experience visions where Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret appeared to her and urged Joan to liberate France from English control. It was her destiny to free every inch of French soil under the rightful king: Charles VII.
At first, the voices told Joan to live piously and attend church regularly. But then they said Joan had to lead the armies of France into battle. When she relayed the messages from the saint and angels to other people, she did so with a “marvellous transport, her gaze lifted to heaven”.
Some modern commentators think she might have been schizophrenic or epileptic. But at the time, France was ready to heed her call. She became the heroic emblem of French resistance. Until she was captured by Burgundian forces in 1431 and sold to her dread enemy – England.
She was put on trial by the English-friendly bishop Pierre Cauchon who accused Joan of heresy. Her visions were demonic. She refused to submit to the judgement of the church. This peasant girl claimed some kind of divine status. And worst of all – she dressed like a man. All of this was clear signs of consorting with Satan.
She was found guilty and burned at the stake. But never mind – because centuries later in 1920, the Roman Catholic church decided she was a saint.
Kimpa Vita – Africa’s Joan of Arc
Kimpa Vita (1684-1706) has been referred to as the “Joan of Arc of the Congo”.
A similar figure met the same fate in very different circumstances in what is now Angola, Africa. In the late 17th century, a high-born Congolese (Bantu) woman – Dona Beatriz Kimpa Vita – became a symbol of her people’s resistance to the Portuguese colonial invasion.
Congo (or Kongo) had been converted to Catholicism by the Portuguese, but it was a syncretic mix with local beliefs. This annoyed Catholic priests and inquisitors who could only see impurity, even diabolism.
Kimpa Vita claimed she was being instructed by Saint Anthony who wanted the Congolese to keep the Portuguese away – because their trans-Atlantic slave trade would soon result in thousands of Congolese being shipped in chains to the Americas. She also stated that Jesus – known as Yissa’Yah – was from Congo.
The local African ruler – King Pedro Nusamu a Mvemba – was not sure what to do about Kimpa Vita. Was she a good thing or a bad thing? So, he consulted some Italian Capuchin priests. Their response was simple: burn her at the stake as a heretic.
Incredibly, that’s exactly what he did.
Have you ever wanted to know more about the Knights Templar? It’s your good fortune that I’ve written a book to satisfy your curiosity. The Knights Templar: History & Mystery – published by Pen & Sword – available on Amazon, Waterstones, WHSmith, and Barnes & Noble. Get your copy today!
