My World History Class

Joan of Ark was a peasant girl living in medieval France. Joan was born around 1412  was the daughter of a tenant farmer, Jacques d’Arc, from the village of Domrémy, in northeastern France.

She was not taught to read or write, but her pious mother instilled in her a deep love for the Catholic Church and its teachings.

At the age of 13, Joan began to hear voices, which she determined had been sent by God to give her a mission of overwhelming importance: to save France by expelling its enemies, and to install Charles as its rightful king. As part of this divine mission, Joan took a vow of chastity. At the age of 16, after her father attempted to arrange a marriage for her, she successfully convinced a local court that she should not be forced to accept the match.

Robert de Baudricourt, she persisted, attracting a small band of followers who believed her claims to be the virgin who was destined to save France. When Baudricort relented, Joan cropped her hair and dressed in men’s clothes to make the 11-day journey across enemy territory to Chinon, site of the crown prince’s palace.

Against the advice of most of his counselors and generals, Charles granted her request, and Joan set off for Orléans in March of 1429 dressed in white armor and riding a white horse. After sending off a defiant letter to the enemy, Joan led several French assaults against them, driving the Anglo-Burgundians from their bastion and forcing their retreat across the Loire River. After such a miraculous victory, Joan’s reputation spread far and wide among French forces.