Jeanne D’Arc

5RR J. Michelet, with 10 illustrations by Bida. Paris, 1888. Notes Joan of Arc was a peasant girl born around 1412 in Domrémy, France, during the Hundred Years' War between France and England. At the age of 13, she claimed to have received visions and messages from saints instructing her to help Charles VII, the Dauphin (heir to the French throne), reclaim his throne from English occupation. Despite having no military experience, she convinced Charles to allow her to lead troops. In 1429, she played a pivotal role in the Siege of Orléans, which was a turning point in the war and helped Charles VII ascend to the throne. Joan's leadership and military success inspired French forces and became a symbol of resistance and hope for France. She was eventually captured by the English in 1430, tried for heresy and witchcraft, and burned at the stake in 1431 at the age of 19. Her martyrdom, however, made her a national heroine, and she was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1920. The