Joan+of+Arc


 * Joan of Arc** (January 6, 1412 – 30 May 1431) was a French military leader during the Hundred Years War. At only thirteen years old to started to hear voices, she believed it was the voice of God telling her to save France with the deposed Charles VII as the rightful king. At the age of 16 Joan's farther arranged for her to marry she went to court and that arrangement cancelled.

Joan said she received visions of the Archangel Michael, Saint Margaret, and Saint Catherine telling her to support Charles VII and take France from the English in the Hundred Years' War. Charles sent her into battle in Orleans. Joan's battle tactics, the morale she brought to the troops, and perhaps holy interference led to a quick victory. In only nine day the siege was over and the sprit of the French was renewed, leading the way for a French victory. Joan then won many smaller victories eventually leading to a French victory.

The king instructed Joan to lead another mission/battle against Burgundian forces. On her way to complete his mission in April 1430, she was thrown from her horse and taken prisoner by the Burgundians. There was a trial, Joan was charged with over 70 charges, such as witchcraft heresy and dressing like a man. The French made no attempt to help release Joan. In May of 1431, Joan signed a confession stating she was guilty and would repent her sins and would dress as a woman. She defied the orders several days later and was again dressing as a man (which she did on the battlefield to avoid being sexually assaulted by male soldiers), which led to them realizing she was never going to change and that she must be killed and burned at the stake. If they only knew... she only became more famous after the killed her.

After her death, she was canonized as a Roman Catholic Saint and was a hero to everyone in France. Twenty-five years after her death, in 1455, the Pope revisited her trial, pronounced her innocent, and announced that her execution was completely unnecessary. Even further in the future in 1803 Napoleon himself declared Joan the new symbol of France. She's still remembered today as one of the nine patron saints of France.