Joan d’Arc: The Girl Who Changed History

990 Words2 Pages

There are many distinguished military figures, but how many are female? Perhaps there are quite a few, but one young woman is especially interesting. Her name is Joan d’Arc and she lived in the 15th Century. Many people may have heard about her or her name may sound vaguely familiar. As history relates, Joan d’Arc is one young lady worth getting to know. Her life was short, having been murdered at age nineteen, yet she made a large impact on history and people. Joan d’Arc was a very selfless and happy child. She was born in 1412 to Jacques and Isabella d’Arc. (Marie 2) Her parents were peasant farmers who live in Domremy, France. She was the fifth child and the second girl in the family. Sister Marie-Bernard states in her article that Joan was very passionate in her Catholic faith. (Marie 2) She would attend Mass every Sunday and on many other days of the week. If she wasn’t able to participate in the Holy Sacrament, she would kneel in the fields and pray. Although she was never given a proper education, her mother taught her prayers. Joan also had a great love for the poor. Her parents would open their house to foreigners and Joan often gave her own bed to them, opting for the hard floor instead. She was undoubtedly a remarkably giving child with a fervent faith. Joan’s decision to assist in the War was not of her own desire. Rather, she claimed to hear voices that encouraged her to do so. According to Sister Marie-Bernard, the voices of Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret had been with Joan since she was thirteen and continued to provide advice until her death. (Marie 3) The saints told Joan to raise an army in order to help the French. At that time, the French were losing the Hundred Years’ War. Kennedy Hickman, a journalist... ... middle of paper ... ...n the year 1431 and on her last day of life, she was allowed to receive communion from a priest, and then burned her at the stake three times to make sure she wouldn’t survive. Her ashes were dumped into River Seine. (Leadbeater). Her executioner, Geoffrey Therage, upon realizing Joan’s holiness, said that he “greatly feared to be damned.” (Leadbeater) Works Cited "Excerpt from Transcript of the Trial of Joan of Arc." Lapham's Quarterly Winter 2010: 63- 64. Readers' Guide Full Text. Web. Oct. 2013. Hickman, Kennedy. "Hundred Years' War: Siege of Orléans." About.com Military History. N.p. 2013. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. Leadbeater, Chris. "Joan of Arc: The Woman Who Shaped a Nation." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 11 Oct. 2012. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. Marie-Bernard, Sister, M.I.C.M. “Saint Jeanne d’Arc.” From the Housetop. 2001: 1-23. Print.

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