Summary: Joan of Arc tells the story of the French peasant girl who claimed to hear divine voices and led French forces against the English during the Hundred Years’ War. Her bravery and faith led to significant victories, but she was eventually captured, tried for heresy, and executed.
Foundational Historical Facts:
- Joan of Arc, born in 1412, claimed to be on a divine mission to drive the English from France and restore the French throne to Charles VII.
- Her victory at the Battle of Orléans in 1429 was a turning point in the Hundred Years’ War, boosting French morale and leading to the coronation of Charles VII.
- Joan was captured by the English in 1430, put on trial for charges including witchcraft and heresy, and was burned at the stake in 1431.