Jeanne d'Arc

Jeanne D'Arc (known in English as Joan of Arc) was a French patriot of the early 15th century who led the French to victory against the English. She was canonised long after Her death by the Catholic Church, who made Her Saint Jeanne. Jeanne first heard voices when She was thirteen years old. She believed they were the voices of God and the Saints Catherine, Margaret, and Michael, who told Her that through Her deeds France would triumph in the long war with England and the Dauphin would be crowned France's rightful King. At the age of eighteen She convinced the Dauphin to let Her lead an army to the beseiged French city of Orleans. Having cut Her hair short like a soldier's, and wearing male clothing, She took part in the battle, planting the first scaling-ladder Herself, and leading a company under Her own banner. She was wounded, but in the end the French drove the English off, and a little over two months later the Dauphin was crowned King Charles VII of France. Jeanne was made nobility by the king for Her help against the English and their Burgundian allies, and She continued to fight against them in battle. But She was captured by the Burgundians at Compiègne, who eventually turned Her over to the English. She was tried by an ecclesiastical court largely made up of English sympathisers and condemned to be burnt at the stake. At the threat of this She recanted, and was given life in prison. However within four days She was forced into wearing male clothing again, and this was used as a pretext to sentence Her to death. On May 30th, 1431 in the Old Market Square in Rouen, Jeanne D'Arc was burned alive at the stake. She had been dressed for Her death in a long woman's gown. She was nineteen years of age.