Joan of Arc was a heroic peasant girl from France born around 1412 who famously led the French army to victory during the Hundred Years' War. At only 17, she convinced the King to let her command troops to drive out the English! Her courage is an inspiring tale for young readers.
Imagine being a regular kid, just helping with chores on the farm, and then suddenly... you hear voices telling you to lead an army! Sounds like a movie, right? Well, that's exactly what happened to one of history's most amazing young heroes: Joan of Arc!
Joan of Arc was born around 1412 in the little village of Domrémy, France. This was a scary time because France and England were locked in a long, tough fight called the Hundred Years' War. Most of the important leaders were men, and France was struggling. But Joan, a simple peasant girl, stepped up with incredible courage, believing God sent her to help the French kick the English out and make sure the right king was crowned!
Mira says:
"Wow, Finn! She was just a teenager when she convinced the King to give her command! That’s like convincing your principal to let you lead the whole school in a very important mission. Her faith in her mission was stronger than anyone’s doubts!"
What Was All the Fuss About? The Hundred Years' War
Before we talk more about Joan, let’s quickly look at the war she grew up in. The Hundred Years' War was a super long series of battles between England and France that lasted, well, way longer than 100 years—from 1337 to 1453! The biggest problem was that both England’s king and France’s royal family thought *they* should be the King of France.
When Joan was born, the English controlled a lot of northern France, including important cities. The rightful French heir, Charles VII, hadn't been crowned because the key city for coronations, Reims, was in enemy territory. The French troops were discouraged, and it seemed like they might lose everything. This is where Joan believed her special mission began!
Mind-Blowing Fact!
Joan of Arc’s nickname was “La Pucelle,” which means ‘The Maid’ in French! People also call her the ‘Maid of Orléans’ because of her amazing victory there.
Joan's Amazing Journey: From Farm Girl to General
When Joan was about 12 or 13 years old, she said she started hearing voices—from saints like Michael, Margaret, and Catherine—telling her exactly what to do. The main instructions were clear: drive the English out of France and make sure Charles VII was crowned king in Reims.
It took a lot of convincing! At about 17 years old, Joan finally persuaded a local military leader to take her to see Charles VII. She cut her hair short and wore men’s clothes for the journey, which was unusual for a girl, but she needed to travel safely to the king’s castle.
In Domrémy, France
When she first met Charles VII
After arriving at Orléans, the English lifted the siege!
When she was executed in 1431
How Did Joan Turn the Tide of the War?
Joan’s most famous moment came when she was sent to the city of Orléans, which was completely surrounded by the English army—a situation called a siege.
The French soldiers were losing hope. But when Joan arrived in April 1429, carrying her banner, she gave them a massive boost of confidence!
The Siege of Orléans Victory
Joan didn't just cheer from the sidelines; she was right there with the troops. She carried a large banner instead of a weapon in battle.
She led an inspiring charge against an English fort called Les Tourelles. Even when she was shot by an arrow, she came back to keep fighting!
Just nine days after she arrived, the English gave up and left the city! This was a huge, turning-point victory for the French.
💡 Did You Know?
Joan was very strict about behavior among the soldiers. She made sure they treated civilians kindly, encouraged them to go to confession, and tried to stop them from swearing or being mean to people they captured. She wanted the army to be pure for God’s work!
🎯 Quick Quiz!
What major event did Joan of Arc help secure for Charles VII after the victory at Orléans?
Who Caught Joan and What Happened Next?
Joan continued to help the French win more battles, paving the way for Charles VII’s official coronation in Reims in 1429. Her mission seemed complete!
But in 1430, while fighting near the town of Compiègne, she was captured by soldiers from Burgundy, who were allied with the English. They sold her to the English.
- The English put her on trial, but not for fighting—they accused her of serious religious crimes like heresy and witchcraft because of her voices.
- The trial was very unfair. The court was led by a bishop who was loyal to the English.
- Under threat of being executed, Joan was tricked into saying some things she shouldn't have, but she quickly took back her confession, saying her saints scolded her for denying God's command!
- Because she refused to stop claiming her voices were real, she was found guilty and tragically burned at the stake on May 30, 1431, in Rouen, France.
Even though Joan died young, her impact was huge! The French were inspired by her courage and went on to win the Hundred Years’ War years later. Then, 25 years later, a new church court looked at her case and decided the first trial was completely unfair. Finally, in 1920, the Catholic Church honored her incredible faith and service by making her a Saint!
Questions Kids Ask About Medieval History
Keep Exploring History's Heroes!
What an incredible story of courage! Joan of Arc proves that you don't have to be a king or a grown-up to make a massive difference in the world. Keep listening to History's Not Boring to find more amazing figures who changed everything!
