In recognition of his contribution to New Orleans and beyond as a community leader through his work as the assistant principal and academic director of Ecole Bilingue de la Nouvelle Orléans, helping to preserve New Orleans’ French heritage by perpetuating the French language through our French immersion schools, the Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc has named Pierre-Loic Denichou to portray King Charles VII in its 2018 parade. King Pierre has invited you to be part of his special day, and his messenger awaits your reply.   By special invitation of the King, members of the King’s Entourage are eligible for an entourage membership in the Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc; just click to “reply to your king” to accept your invitation. Members of the King’s Entourage will need to provide their own costume appropriate for medieval nobility. King Pierre-Loic will provide throws for you. Entourage members may purchase additional throws from us, make their own throws or buy appropriate throws elsewhere according to our guidelines. Lineup is at 5 p.m. at the Steamboat Natchez pavilion on the riverfront near Toulouse and Decatur.

Each year, the Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc selects a male community leader who embodies New Orleans’ French connection to portray King Charles VII in our parade.Before Joan arrived on the scene, King Charles VII (1403-1461) of France was ruling from the town of Chinon (because the English had taken Paris), without a public crowning (because the English had taken Reims). With the pending fall of the town of Orléans, France’s very independence was under siege, and Charles VII made an extraordinary choice: he put a teenage peasant girl called by God in charge of his armies.  The young Joan inspired the tired French troops, who liberated Orléans and blazed a path to Reims where Charles was finally publicly crowned with Joan at his side.