oan of Arc, known also as the Maid of Orleans, was born in around 1412 in a village called Domremy in Lorraine and was the daughter of a farmer. She had no education apart from religious instruction given to her by her mother and spent most of her time help look after the sick and tending her family's sheep. She was born in a period of anarchy in France where the king was sufferring from bouts of madness and the two rival houses of Orléans and Burgundy fourght to take control of the monarchy. After the death of King Charles, the French throne fell to his son, a young prince who supported the Armagnac Faction, a party who were fighting for the French people. The Burgundians on the other hand swearing allegience to the English king Henry V. Even in a remote farm, the politics of the time must have had an effect on the young Joan.One evening, on one of her solitary walks, Joan saw a bright light and heard a voice coming from the direction of the local church. The visions continued informing her of her mission to rescue Orléans from the English invaders, save France and ensure the young king was crowned at Rhiems. At the age of 16 Joan went to see Robert de Baudricourt, the head of the French army at Vaucouleurs. Joan told him of the visions and her mission but he did not believe her and sent her home. Early in 1429 Joan left Domremy and returned to Vaucouleurs where again she spoke of her visions. This time she was believed and given permission to see Charles VII, the King of France. Leaving Vaucouleurs on February 24, 1429, Joan headed to Chinon and a meeting with the King.
For protection on her journey Joan dressed as a man and had some attendants. In early March Joan reached Chinon but it took several days before the King granted her an audience. The King was advised to accept Joan's help and she was supplied with white armour, a horse and a detachment of men for her journey to Orléans.
Within the month Joan and her army had reached Orléans with supplies and attacked the English besiegers. In May of 1429 the English withdrew and the siege was lifted. Following up on their success,the French defeated the English at the Battle of Patay and in July Charles was crowned at Rhiems Cathedral.
Joan's main objective was to liberate Paris from the Burgundians, but first she needed to free Compiegne. It was during the fighting here that she was wounded again and this time captured. Joan was then sold to the English who handed her over to the Church. As Compiegne was under the bishopric of Beauvais Joan was delivered to Pierre Cauchon, the Bishop of Beauvais, who led the trial against her in which she was accused of witchcraft and heresy. Joan was found guilty and burnt at the stake in Rouen's marketplace.
