Jeanne La Pucelle (joan The Maid)

1412, it is in the last half-century of the Hundred Years' War in which

the French attempted to attain freedom from English rule by fighting to

eradicate English strongholds. An unusually strong, healthy, and

possibly clairvoyant girl is born to Isabelle Romée and Jacques d'Arc in

the small village of Domremy, France. Her mother is from the town of

Vouthon, which is west of Domremy. Her surname concurs that either she

or a family member has visited Rome. Her father was born in a village

called Ceffonds in the province of Champagne. His last name indicates a

connection with Arc-en-Barrois, a small town fifty kilometers north of

Ceffonds. She had a somewhat wealthy family as you can tell from their

home with a stone construction. You can still visit her home today. It

has since been used as a wine cellar, a wine press, and a stable. She

was one of five children: Jacques, Catherine, Jean, Joan, and Pierre.

Their wealth came from their farming of wheat, flax, beet hemp, and

colza. They also bred livestock, spun wool and tow, and kneaded their

own bread. She was baptized by Jean Minet in the Church of St. Remy.

She is admired by patriots, women's rights activists, paranormal

investigators, and playwrights.

The woman I am talking about is commonly known as Joan of Arc.

When Joan was 13 she began to see visions and hear voices who she later

determined to be Saints Catherine, Margaret, and Michael. They

convinced her that she was chosen by God to help the dauphin, Charles

VII free France and take his seat in the throne. At age 17 in 1429 she

gained access to the King through the military commander in Vaucoulaurs.

Charles was desperate because the English had captured almost half of

France including Paris. When Joan told him of her visions of the Saints

he was doubtful so he set up two tests for her. In the first he

disguised himself as a courtier, but she pointed him out immediately.

For the second test he asked her what he prayed to God for the night

before she arrived; she told him exactly. Some of the clergy believed

her to be Satanic, but Joan was approved. Charles fitted her with armor

and gave her command of the military. Soon after she set out to free

Orleans from a brutal siege. The other French commanders hesitantly

followed orders, but soon they obeyed her whole-heartedly. Under Joan's

command the siege was broken after only ten days and the English fled.

She was given the everlasting title "The