Joan of Arc (French: Jeanne d’Arc) was a peasant girl born around 1412 in Domrémy, France, who became a national heroine and a saint of the Catholic Church. She is most famous for her role in the Hundred Years’ War between France and England.

At the age of 16, Joan claimed to have experienced visions and heard voices of saints, particularly Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret, urging her to support Charles VII, the Dauphin (heir to the French throne), and help him reclaim his throne from English control. Believing these divine messages, she convinced Charles to allow her to lead an army.

In 1429, she played a pivotal role in lifting the siege of Orléans, a major victory that boosted French morale and paved the way for Charles VII’s coronation as King of France in Reims. Her successes on the battlefield earned her widespread fame, and she became a symbol of French unity and resistance.

However, Joan was captured by the English in 1430, handed over to the Burgundians, and put on trial for charges including heresy, witchcraft, and cross-dressing (she wore male military attire). In 1431, she was found guilty and was burned at the stake in Rouen, France, at the age of 19.

Joan’s legacy lived on, and in 1920, she was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church. She is remembered as a courageous and determined leader who played a key role in the history of France and is one of the most famous figures in Western history.