Joan of Arc is regarded as a national heroine in France for helping rid the English from their country. The gold-plated silver ring is believed to have been given to the French martyr by her parents for her first communion.
According to legend, the ring worn on the left index finger of Joan of Arc was stolen by an anglicized French Bishop during her trial in 1431, after which she was burned at the stake — and the ring taken to England, as a war trophy. Six-hundred years later, the ring came up for auction in London on February 26 at a starting price of US$20,084. But the French rose victorious after buying the relic for US$415,063.
Britain is asking France to return the ring of Joan of Arc. Unknown if the rest of the world will ask for all their stuff back from Britain.
— JuanPa (@jpbrammer) March 22, 2016
However in a twist to the tale, Arts Council England has instructed lawyers of Puy de Fou, a historically themed amusement park which bought the ring, to return it after it was apparently sent to France without an export license. A license is needed for all items of national importance worth over $US54,960 and those which have been in the UK for more than 50 years.
Arts Council England says the ring should be returned so it could go through the normal purchase process. It could also mean a museum in Britain could match the price and keep the ring in England.
In defiance, Philippe de Villiers, founder of Puy de Fou, marked its triumphant return and said:
"It's a little bit of France that has returned. The ring has come back to France and will stay here."
Custody battles between Britain and other countries are not as rare as the artifacts involved. The debate over whether the Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles should be returned to Greece by Britain has been rumbling on for decades.
Greece claims the statues and friezes adorning the Acropolis in Athens were stolen by Lord Elgin, but in 1816 the British government legally approved the acquisition and the Marbles remain on permanent display in London's British Museum.
The Athenian Association, an organization standing up to the "despoilment" of the Parthenon is currently trying to sue the UK at the European Court of Human Rights.
And a group of Indian businesses and Bollywood stars have instructed lawyers begin legal proceedings at London's High Court for the return of a rare diamond worn by Britain's Queen Mother, the Koh-i-Noor, to India.
They claim the 105-carat diamond mined in India around 800 years ago was stolen "under dubious circumstances" and are demanding the British government give it back.
In 2013, British Prime Minister David Cameron defended the UK's right to keep the jewel saying he did not believe in "returnism" — and when it comes to a ring belonging to Joan of Arc, it seems neither do the French.
