Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc, born in 1412 in Domrémy, France, emerged as a pivotal figure during the Hundred Years' War, revered as a military leader and religious icon. Hailing from a propertied peasant family, she claimed divine guidance through visions from the archangel Michael and saints Margaret and Catherine, compelling her to assist Charles VII in reclaiming France from English control.

In 1428, at the age of seventeen, Joan sought an audience with Charles VII, who, convinced of her purity and devotion, dispatched her to Orléans as part of a relief army. Her arrival in April 1429 revitalized the beleaguered French forces, and within nine days, the English lifted their siege. Joan's leadership during the Loire Campaign led to a significant victory at Patay, paving the way for Charles's coronation in Reims, where she stood proudly by his side.

Despite her early successes, Joan faced challenges following the coronation, participating in the unsuccessful siege of Paris and the failed siege of La Charité. Her fortunes turned in May 1430 when she was captured by Burgundian troops and subsequently handed over to the English. Accused of heresy, including blasphemy for wearing men's clothing and acting on her visions, she was tried and executed by burning at the stake on May 30, 1431, at the tender age of nineteen.

In 1456, a posthumous retrial exonerated Joan, revealing the deceit and errors in her original trial. Celebrated as a martyr and a symbol of freedom, she became a national icon of France after the French Revolution. Canonized in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV, Joan of Arc remains a powerful figure in history, inspiring countless cultural works across various mediums.