Joan of Arc, Saint

Joan of Arc, Saint (about 1412-31), French saint.

Jeanne d'Arc, as she is called in French, was the daughter of a farmer in Domrémy.

In her time, parts of France had been overrun by armies from England. At the age of thirteen, Joan started hearing strange voices. They told her she should help to drive the English out of France.

After four years, she went to see King Charles VII of France and he agreed to let her fight for him. In April 1429, she rode out at the head of his army. She was dressed in a suit of shining armour especially made for her and mounted on a beautiful black horse.

The city of Orleans was under siege by the English. With 6,000 men, Joan defeated them and freed the city. Next she led an army to Paris but this time she was defeated and later she was captured.

The English said she was a witch. After a long trial, she was burned at the stake in Rouen on 30 May, 1431.

Later people were sorry. They said, 'We have burned a saint,' and, in 1920, the Catholic Church gave Joan the title of saint.

See Ben D. Kennedy Maid of Heaven