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Secondary sourceBook1801

The Maid of Orleans

Friedrich Schiller · 1801

A Romantic tragedy by Friedrich Schiller that reimagines Joan of Arc as an idealist heroine, a staple of German literature classes.

A German Romantic tragedy recasting Joan as an idealist heroine, widely studied in German literature.

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Aged German theatre playbill, printed in black type on cream paper, announcing the premiere of Schiller's 'Die Jungfrau von Orleans' at the Theater am Rannstädter Thore, with a cast list and times.
Playbill for the premiere of Friedrich Schiller's Die Jungfrau von Orleans, Leipzig, 11 September 1801.

About this source

What it is

The Maid of Orleans (Die Jungfrau von Orleans) is a tragedy by Friedrich Schiller, first performed in Leipzig in 1801. It loosely follows Joan of Arc's life across a prologue and five acts, departing from history especially in its final scenes.

Why it matters

Schiller's play turned Joan into a Romantic, idealist heroine, emphasizing her inner struggle and tragic fate rather than strict historical accuracy. It was one of Schiller's most performed works during his lifetime and later inspired several operas, showing how Joan's story was reshaped across Europe to fit new artistic and national ideals.

Look closer

  • Which parts of the play follow history, and which are invented by Schiller?
  • Why might a German playwright be drawn to write about a French heroine?
  • How does giving Joan a love story change the meaning of her mission?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Joan of Arc on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Letter to the People of Riom

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