Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc was a teenage peasant girl who changed the course of the Hundred Years' War between France and England. Claiming divine visions from saints like Michael, Catherine, and Margaret, Joan believed she was chosen by God to drive the English from French soil and ensure the coronation of Charles VII.

At just 17, she convinced the Dauphin of France to let her lead an army to lift the Siege of Orléans. Against all odds, her courage and spiritual charisma inspired the troops, leading to a pivotal French victory. Joan's campaigns sparked national pride and momentum for Charles VII's coronation at Reims in 1429.

However, her rise alarmed political and religious authorities. In 1430, she was captured by Burgundian allies of the English and handed over for trial. Accused of heresy, witchcraft, and dressing like a man, Joan was condemned in a politically charged inquisition and burned at the stake at age 19.

Twenty-five years later, the Church declared her innocent and a martyr. In 1920, she was canonized as a Catholic saint, becoming one of the patron saints of France.

Quick Facts

• Also known as: Jeanne d'Arc
• Claim to fame: Young peasant turned military leader inspired by divine visions
• Battle victories: Orléans, Patay, Troyes
• Died at age: 19, by execution
• Canonized: 1920 by Pope Benedict XV
• Legacy: National heroine of France, symbol of faith, courage, and resistance

Joan of Arc remains one of the most remarkable figures in world history—an illiterate girl who commanded armies, swayed kings, and died for her beliefs. Her legacy as a warrior, mystic, and martyr endures across centuries.