Joan of Arc

Jeanne d’Arc la Pucelle, better known as the Maid of Orleans or Saint Joan of Arc, was a

French peasant girl who strongly believed in religion. Jeanne is an excellent example of a

strong female role model and a heroine. She preformed many remarkable acts for

her country, as well as for God. These acts greatly influenced the history of France and

England, as well as changing beliefs regarding what was capable of women and people

of low social status.

Jeanne was born in Domremy, France in 1412, to parents Jacques d’Arc and Isabelle

Romee. She was a Catholic peasant, known for her kindness throughout the area. Her

mother began teaching her domestic skills and religion at an early age. At the age of

thirteen, she began hearing revelations from God relayed by Saint Michael, Saint

Catherine and Saint Margaret. They told her to aid the Dauphin, Charles, in defeating the

English and Burgundian (a Germanic group allied with the English) in the Hundred Years

War. They also asked her to assist Charles in finally having his coronation, which was

being put on hold due to the place of coronation, Reims, being under English control. She

decided to follow the voice’s commands, and after several attempts, managed to get a

meeting with the Dauphin.

Charles was worried about the battle, and decided to send Jeanne and some troops to aide

in the Siege of Orleans. This was when the English surrounded the French city of

Orleans with fortresses and made life difficult for it’s inhabitants. When she arrived, the

voices told her to enter into battle with the English. She successfully ended the Siege with

the help of her troops, and was now known throughout France as the “Maid of Orleans.”

Soon after, she once aga...

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...nt. At the time, it was

mainly royals, even more so males, who made a large impact in history. But Jeanne, a

female peasant, did more than some of them ever could.

To briefly summarize Joan of Arc, she was a strong, brave and determined woman who

crushed many beliefs about women and people of low social status, and changed history.

She died because of her loyalty and love for her country and God, as well as for not

changing her opinions and beliefs to please society. One of her few quotes explain her

perfectly: “I would rather die than do something which I know is sin, or be against God’s

will.” 2

Sparknotes.com/biography/joanofarc.html
Wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_of_Arc
Brainyquote.com/Joan_of_Arc

Works Cited

Sparknotes.com/biography/joanofarc.html
Wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_of_Arc
Brainyquote.com/Joan_of_Arc