Saint Joan

Joan of Arc was born around 1412 in Domrémy, France, during a period of conflict with England known as the Hundred Years’ War. When Joan was a child, King Henry V of England invaded France and married Catherine of Valois, daughter to King Charles VI of France, signing a treaty that would give their children control of both the French and English throne. However, war continued as many French nobles, calling themselves Armagnacs, supported the claim of Charles VII to the throne of France. When Joan was 13 years old, her village was attacked by English soldiers, and she began to experience visions of the Archangel Saint Michael. The visions continued, also incorporating messages from Saint Margaret of Antioch and Saint Catherine of Alexandria. French popular folklore prophesized that a virgin would save France, and Joan took on the moniker of The Maiden in order to affiliate herself with that prophecy. By the time that Joan was 17, she had made her way to the French royal court at Chinon and persuaded the Dauphin to send her with the relief troops to liberate the city of Orléans. Joan fought in the battle and was wounded by an arrow, but the English were forced to retreat from Orléans.