Top 10 Exciting Facts About Joan of Arc: Discover the Captivating Tale of France's Inspiring Heroine

1. The Ultimate Cheerleader

Who needs battle gear when you've got a fabulous banner and the power of pep talks? Meet the ultimate cheerleader of medieval France: Joan of Arc never actually fought in battle or used a sword and armor; instead, she acted as a strategist and inspirational figure, wielding her banner and directing troops to numerous victories against the English, ultimately playing a crucial role in crowning Charles VII as king of France.
Source => history.com

2. The Original Spiritual Influencer

Joan of Arc was the original spiritual influencer: from hearing saints to wearing pants, she totally started a divine trend in 15th-century France. Word from the skies: Joan claimed she heard the voices of angels and saints such as Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret, directing her to support the Dauphin by aiding Orleans and ending England's siege on the city. Historical interpretations of her mystical experiences range from heavenly communications to hallucinations sparked by the chaos of her times and personal life.
Source => sparknotes.com

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3. Medieval Netflix Star

You'd think Joan of Arc was binge-watching medieval Netflix instead of hitting the books-owing to her clever quips and tickling wit: Despite a lack of formal education or schooling, historians still debate whether Joan was illiterate or if her family deliberately kept her away from learning, and yet her wisdom impressed even the most educated men during her trial.
Source => medium.com

4. Divine Glow-Up

Talk about a divine glow-up: Joan of Arc's white armor, gifted to her by Charles VII, was custom-made in Tours in 1429, making her shine like a holy beacon on the battlefield. After taking a hit in Paris, she left it at Saint Denis' altar as more than just a shiny keepsake.
Source => maidofheaven.com

5. Girl Power!

Who needs a knight in shining armor when you've got a teenage girl with a divine hotline? Joan of Arc swiftly put grown men to shame on the battlefield: Over the course of six months, she led the French to several crucial victories during the Hundred Years' War, including lifting the siege of Orléans and securing King Charles VII's coronation at Reims, forever cementing her status as a strategic prodigy.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Teenage Witch Turned Saint

Talk about a teenage witch gone rogue: Joan of Arc was a mere 19-year-old when she was crispy-fried at the stake for witchcraft and heresy, only to have her reputation fully restored almost 500 years later as a saint in 1920!
Source => umma.umich.edu

7. Mosh Pit Master

Did Joan of Arc have a VIP pass at a metal festival? Because she sure could lead a mosh pit: Despite lacking formal combat training, this medieval heroine expertly directed several successful campaigns in the Hundred Years' War, including the Siege of Orléans and the Battle of Patay, wielding swords and axes while her banner symbolized her authority on the battlefield.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Burned, Innocent, and Sainted

If at first you don't succeed, die, die, and posthumously be declared a saint: Joan of Arc's trial in 1431 concluded with her being found guilty of heresy and subsequently burned at the stake, but 25 years later, her verdict was overturned, she was declared innocent, transformed into a French national heroine, and finally canonized by the Roman Catholic Church in 1920.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Medieval Houdini

If the walls of Beaurevoir Castle could talk, they'd probably share the story of a certain daring medieval escape artist channeling her inner Houdini and taking the 70-foot plunge to freedom: Joan of Arc was captured by the Burgundians and imprisoned there, and in an attempt to escape, she jumped from her tower into a dry moat. Although she was later sold to the English for 10,000 livres tournois and faced a politically motivated trial where she was found guilty of heresy and cross-dressing, her daring spirit and legendary courage continue to captivate us today.
Source => thecenterforruleoflaw.org

10. Patron Saint of Late Bloomers

The Patron Saint of Late Bloomers: Joan of Arc didn't quite win "Most Likely to be Canonized" in her high school yearbook, but she sure turned the tides later: Despite her execution in 1431, she was exonerated in 1456 after a retrial found her original court trial violated Church laws. She eventually got an upgrade from combustible heretic to Saint Joan of the Arc in 1920, thanks to the tireless efforts of the French Catholic hierarchy and the saintly efforts of Pope Benedict XV.
Source => en.wikipedia.org