The St Joan of Arc French Market festival is on Saturday, September 9th, from Noon to Ten at 42nd and Central (sjoa.org/about-french-market). St Joan of Arc parish was named in honor of the French girl who inspired and led French troops against the English invaders during the Hundred Years' War, a long territorial dispute between England and France (1337-1431, so actually a 94 Years' War).

At the start, France was the most powerful kingdom in Europe, but the English steadily won French land in Normandy and Gascony. When the French King, Charles IV, died with no sons or brothers, the heir to the French throne was in dispute. Charles' closest relative was his nephew, Edward-a bloody Englishman related to Charles through his mother, Charles's sister, Isabella! The outraged French barons imposed Salic law, an ancient code whereby women could not inherit property, power or position. So, if Isabella couldn't inherit the throne, then neither could Edward, thereby sending the dispute into overtime-like a hundred year's overtime! The effect of Salic law is still felt today.

Ironically, a Frenchwoman, Joan from Domremy, had repeated visitations from Saint Michael the Archangel and Saints Margaret and Catherine. As Joan's reputation spread, she was placed at the head of French troops, turning the tide against the Limeys. She was captured by the Burgundians, an independent group of Frenchmen loyal to the Brits.

She was imprisoned by the English, tried by the French Bishop Pierre Cauchon for heresy and blasphemy (she wore men's clothes in prison to avoid further penal unpleasantness) and for acting upon her "demonic" visions. She was burned at the stake on May 30, 1431, only 19 years old. Twenty-five years later, the Church reversed her conviction and, in the 19th century, she became the patron saint of France. After the French Revolution, she was named the French national symbol of freedom and femininity, at least until Bridget Bardot came along.

No one knows how she came to be called Joan of Arc. In her trial transcripts -yes, they still exist! -- she testified that she didn't know her last name and called herself Jehanne la Purcelle (Joan the Maid). She couldn't read or write and never called herself Joan of Arc. She was canonized as a Catholic saint in 1920 and, in 1921, the newest Catholic church in Indianapolis was named for her.

So, on the first Saturday after Labor Day, this year on September 9th, 10,000 Francophiles gather at 42nd and Central to eat French food prepared on-site by real chefs (sjoa.org/menu), listen to great music (sjoa.org/2017-entertainment), shop at the artisan street market (sjoa.org/artisans), try to win a fabulous prize in the French Market raffle (sjoa.org/raffle), drink wine and dance around in a beret! Come to French Market, mon ami, where everybody's French. . . and good-looking!