Joan of arc orleans

Joan of Arc is a French heroine and Roman Catholic saint. Born in obscurity to a peasant family, she travelled to the uncrowned Dauphin of France, advising him to reclaim his French throne and defeat the English. Joan of Arc was sent alongside French troops to the siege of Orleans and rose to prominence after the siege was lifted after nine days.

She was later captured and burned at the stake for heresy. However, as she predicted, seven years after her death, France was reunited with the English defeated and Charles crowned King. Joan of Arc was born in Domremy, France to peasant farmers.

Joan of arc contemporary image

Legend says that she was born to an auspicious sign — held to be a forecast of national triumph. However, what is more certain is that her family were poor and her region had suffered from the long conflict between England and France. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.

From an early age, Joan of Arc displayed a sensitive and religious temperament. From the age of thirteen, she began to have mystical visions. In these visions, she said she felt the voice of God commanding her to renew the French nation. At her later trial, Joan of Arc said she felt these visions were as real seeing another person.

The visions were often accompanied by light and the presence of saints such as St Michael and St Catherine. These visions made Joan of Arc even more religiously inclined.