Jacques d'Arc

Jacques (or Jacquot) d'Arc (sometimes spelled Darc, Dars, Tart, Tarc, Darx, or Day; 1375–1431) was a farmer from Domrémy, France who was the father of the French military leader and Catholic saint Joan of Arc. D'Arc is most known for being an influence on his daughter Joan's life, developing her leadership abilities through his example as a local government and military leader as well as restricting her ambitions with his controlling behaviour that resulted in a strained relationship between them. Life d'Arc was born in Ceffonds. His father was a farmer who owned 50 acres of land. He married Isabelle Romée, a landowner and sister of a church official, with whom he raised their five children (in birth order: Jacquemin, Jean, Catherine, Jeanne, and Pierre) in Domrémy. D'Arc achieved some level of power and respect in Domrémy. He was appointed as "dean", a local government official with administrative and military responsibilities that sometimes involved diplomatic trips to nearby towns. The d'Arc home, which may have been part of Romée's dowry, was the only stone home in Domrémy. The family were peasants but were relatively wealthy compared to their neighbours, owning their home and furniture, nearly 50 acres of land, and 200–300 francs in savings. Catholicism played an important role in the lives of French peasants of the time period and the d'Arc family, with the primary responsibility of religious education being focused on the family and parish priests rather than the influence of the central Church. This lack of a central authority resulted in some Domrémians retaining aspects of traditional non-Christian spritual practices, such as a belief in fairies.