The other Joan of Arc, Jeanne Hachette

Who knew there were two? Jeanne Hachette (real name Jeanne Laisné) was born more than 20 years after Jeanne d'Arc's death in 1431. She gained fame by inspiring the defenders of her city of Beauvais - especially the women - to resist a attack by the Burgundians, who were allied with the English. Waving her axe (her "hachette") around on the battlements, she helped drive off the invaders and led a sustained defense of the royal city. The siege lasted a month and the Burgundians eventually withdrew. Jeanne was only aged 17 or 18 at the time, so now she is Beauvais' local celebrity with a procession (Fêtes Jeanne Hachette) held every year in her honor at the end of June, led by women of course. It is all rather multicultural and inspiring.

This all took place in 1472 and historical records indicate she was a real person. Maybe she was a butcher's daughter and maybe she wasn't. But, this hasn't stopped French people across the political spectrum from arguing over her, just as they have done with Jeanne d'Arc. Religious conservatives don't like her because, unlike Jeanne d'Arc, she is perceived as a secular figure.

Here she is in a couple of illustrations. The first is from an 1866 popular French dictionary.

The second is from a 1902 history book.

Jeanne Hachette is also the Queen of Spades in a historic card set from 1860. This is the Blue Version (there is also a Red Version).

These days there is also a business and residential complex in Ivry sur Seine, Paris, the Centre commercial Jeanne Hachette, named after her.