Woman who led the French army to many victories in the Hundred Years' War
Creator
Amy French
Source
Image: Miniature portrait, 15th c., public domain
Birth Date
1412
Birthplace
Domremy-la-Pucelle, France
Death Date
1431
Occupation
Military
Biographical Text
Joan was a visionary who led the French army to victories that ended the Hundred Years War with England. Joan dressed as a man, addressed men as equals, and led men into battle. After leading the French to victory, she was captured by enemy forces and handed over to the English, who orchestrated her trial for heresy and eventual burning at the stake. Joan’s judges were troubled by her dressing as a man and forced her to wear women’s clothing, at which point she was raped by her jailers and returned to male dress for protection. Joan was eventually canonized and became St. Joan in 1920.
Bibliography
Devries, Kelly. Joan of Arc: a Military Leader. (Sutton Publishing, 1999).
Pernoud, Regine and Marie-Veronique Clin. Joan of Arc: Her Story. (St. Martin's Press, 1999).