Joan of Arc
By: Caedmon Kyles, and Carson Bush
Joan of Arc was born in the year 1412 A.D. in Medieval France.
Joan of Arc (French: Jeanne d’Arc) was born to the tenant farmer
Jacques d’Arc in the village of Domremy in northeast France. She was
not taught to read or write, but she found a deep love for the Catholic
Church. During her childhood France was being torn to pieces because
of a bitter conflict in which England was winning. This was known as
the Hundred Years War.
By the age of 13, Joan began to encounter
visions, and voices in her head. She interpreted the voice
as that of God. In her visions, God gave her a mission,
to save france by driving out the English, and place
Charles VII as king. In May, 1428 Joan, at an age of 17,
began her mission by traveling to Vaucouleurs, a french stronghold of soldiers loyal to Charles
VII. She was finally able to persuade King Charles VII by telling him the details of a solemn
prayer made by King Charles VII to God to save France. It took many tries for the soldiers to
accept her into the army, however she persisted. She was
eventually let in, and given men’s clothes.
One year later she set off to the city of Orleans,
France, with an army given to her by Charles. In a
miraculous victory, Joan drove the invaders out of their
fort, and across the Loire river. This incredible victory, as well as Joan’s victory, spread like fire
through the rest of the french army. Joan’s series of fortunate victories
continued. By July 1429 Charles VII had been crowned king of France.
However her good luck didn’t last long. Her next attempt did not go as
well as the others. In an attempt to recapture Paris,in September, Joan’s
forces were turned back by the english defense. In another bad turn of events,
Joan was captured in an attempt to defend a village from the onslaught of the
english army.
Joan was charged with over 70 offenses, from heresy (dressing like a man) to witchcraft.
She was condemned to death and on May 30, 1431 she was burned at the stake. However Joan’s
death only increased her fame throughout Europe. Joan of Arc was canonized as a saint by Pope
Benedict XV in 1920.
Joan of Arc was a girl born in France during the Hundred Years War. She was inspired by
God through visions to save France from England. She went through many tribulations to get
into the french army. She eventually was accepted into the french army, and was responsible for
many victories and the crowning of Charles VII. She became a martyr when she was burned at
the stake, and became a saint by 1920.
http://www.history.com/topics/saintjoanofarc
http://www.biography.com/people/joanofarc9354756#synopsis
