Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc was born to Jacques d'Arc and Isabelle Romée, a peasant family in Domrémy, France. She grew up in a village ravaged by the Hundred Years' War between England and France.

At the age of 12, Joan began experiencing visions and hearing voices she believed were sent from God, instructing her to save France and crown Charles VII as king.

Joan left her home in Domrémy and traveled to Vaucouleurs to seek an audience with Robert de Baudricourt, the garrison commander, to join the French army and fulfill her divine mission.

Joan was granted an audience with Charles VII at Chinon, where she convinced him of her divine mission and was given command of a small army to lift the siege of Orléans.

Under Joan's leadership, the French forces broke the siege of Orléans, a turning point in the Hundred Years' War, boosting morale and changing the course of the conflict.

Joan played a crucial role in escorting Charles VII to Reims Cathedral, where he was crowned King of France, fulfilling one of her main objectives and solidifying her reputation as a national hero.

During an assault on Paris, Joan was wounded but continued to lead her troops. The injury did not deter her, and she remained a formidable presence on the battlefield.

While attempting to defend Compiègne against a Burgundian attack, Joan was captured and later sold to the English, marking a significant setback in her military campaign.

Joan's trial for heresy and witchcraft began in Rouen, under the jurisdiction of the pro-English bishop Pierre Cauchon. Despite intense questioning and pressure, she maintained her faith and convictions.

Convicted of heresy, Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in Rouen. Her execution was a tragic end to her brief but influential military career and became a symbol of her martyrdom.