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Joan of Arc in brief

Can a young girl really have changed European history in the Middle Ages? It seems impossible, but it's true! Let’s uncover the major facts about Joan of Arc, whose girl power still inspires people worldwide.
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In this lesson, we will dive into Joan of Arc’s storied life and explore the experiences that shaped her into a legend. Let’s start with some key details:
Let’s examine the key facts from Joan’s life. First, take a guess: is this fact about Joan correct?

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Common questions

She was convicted of heresy by a church court under English and Burgundian influence. The charges centered on her claim that God guided her and on her wearing men's clothing. Many historians see the trial as political, since accepting that she spoke for God would mean God favored the French. A 1456 retrial declared her innocent.

Yes. The Catholic Church beatified Joan of Arc in 1909 and canonized her on May 16, 1920, and she is a patron saint of France. Her sainthood followed a 1456 retrial that declared her innocent of the charges that sent her to the stake. Her feast day is May 30.

Joan said her voices came from Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint Catherine of Alexandria, and Saint Margaret of Antioch. She began hearing them at about age 13 and kept insisting they came from God, even at trial. She believed they told her to drive the English from France and bring Charles to Reims.

Yes, but not as a trained commander. Joan had no military training, yet she convinced Charles to send her to Orléans with an army, where she led several assaults that drove the English back. She then escorted Charles to Reims for his coronation. Historians still debate how much she directed the tactics.

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