Joan of Arc was executed while wearing a paper crown that listed 'cross-dressing' as one of her crimes.

Joan of Arc's trial was a politically motivated event orchestrated by the English and their Burgundian allies during the Hundred Years' War. The trial began in February 1431 and was presided over by Bishop Pierre Cauchon. While the primary accusations involved heresy and claiming divine revelation, Joan's choice of clothing became a central legal pivot. Medieval theology, specifically interpretations of Deuteronomy 22:5, strictly forbade women from wearing men's garments.During her imprisonment, Joan initially agreed to wear a dress to avoid execution. However, she resumed wearing hose and a tunic just days later. Historians like Régine Pernoud note that Joan likely returned to male clothing as a defense mechanism against attempted sexual assault by her English guards. Because she had previously sworn to stop, this act was legally classified as a 'relapse,' which allowed the court to bypass further deliberation and move directly to execution.The paper miter she wore at the stake served as a 'titulus,' a traditional sign used to publicly shame the condemned. It specifically listed four crimes: heretic, relapsed, apostate, and idolater. Despite the gravity of the religious charges, the physical act of wearing pants was the most visible symbol of her defiance against the patriarchal structure of the 15th-century Church.In 1456, a posthumous retrial authorized by Pope Callixtus III examined the original court records and testimony from 115 witnesses. This nullification trial declared Joan innocent and formally recognized that her use of male clothing was a necessity for her safety. She was eventually canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1920, nearly 500 years after she was burned for her wardrobe choices.