She wasn’t born mighty—she was called. At just seventeen, Joan of Arc rode into battle not with armor forged by kings, but with conviction shaped by visions. A peasant girl turned prophet, warrior, and martyr, she defied empires and rewrote the meaning of divine rebellion. In this Muse spotlight, we trace the fire behind her faith, the symbols she carried, and the legacy she left for every woman who’s ever been told to stay silent.
Born Jeanne D'Arc in 1412 in Domremy,France. Joan was raised in a devout peasant family during a time of war and political instability. Joan of Arc lived during the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453), a prolonged conflict between England and France over the French throne. A dynastic struggle between the House of Valois (France) and the House of Plantagenet (England) over who had the rightful claim to the French crown.The war lasted 116 years, was fought in phases with long truces and intense battles.
Arcangel Michaels OracleAt age 13, Joan began hearing voices she identified as Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret, urging her to support Charles VII and drive out the English. At age 17, Joan traveled to Chinon, where Charles VII was staying, after gaining support from local officials.She claimed she was sent by God to help him reclaim his throne and drive out the English.Her message included a prophecy: that the French would lift the siege of Orléans and Charles would be crowned king at Reims.
Charles didn’t immediately grant her command. He first sent her to Poitiers, where church officials examined her.They tested her orthodoxy, mental state, and moral character.She passed, with clerics declaring her mission was divinely inspired. According to legend, Joan privately revealed a secret sign to Charles—something only he and God would know.This moment reportedly convinced him of her divine connection and sincerity.
After passing the tests and gaining Charles’s trust, she was given armor, a banner, and a small army.Joan's armor was a custom-made, full-body suit of plate armor—commissioned by Charles VII and designed for both protection and symbolism. It reflected her unique role as a teenage peasant girl turned military leader and divine emissary.Her suit was made of silver and white, called "Harnois blanc"—a “white harness,” meaning a full suit of polished steel plate armor rather than a mix of chainmail and plate.The gleaming “white” armor reinforced her image as a holy warrior, chosen by God.
Joan’s Role in the WarTimeframe: Joan’s involvement spanned 1429–1431, during the later stages of the war
Major Contributions:
Lifted the Siege of Orléans (1429): A turning point that revived French morale
Escorted Charles VII to Reims: Ensured his coronation as king, legitimizing his rule
Symbolism: Joan became a rallying figure for French nationalism and divine legitimacy
Joan of Arc was captured in May 1430 during a skirmish at Compiègne by Burgundian forces, allies of the English.She was handed over to the English for 10,000 livres and imprisoned in Rouen, Normandy.As a woman, she should’ve been held by nuns, but was instead guarded by male soldiers.
She was persecuted by a pro-English church court (January 9-May 29, 1431)that accused her of heresy, witchcraft, and cross-dressing—leading to her execution by burning in 1431. Her trial was politically motivated, aiming to discredit her divine claims and undermine Charles VII’s legitimacy.Joan’s armor was referenced during her trial—as a part of the cross-dressing allegations, she was accused of wearing men’s military gear. She defended herself by stating it was necessary for protection and modesty among soldiers. She was found guilty of Heresy and burned at the stake on May 30, 1431.She cried “Jesus” repeatedly as she died in Rouen’s marketplace.
In 1456, a new court declared her innocent and condemned the original trial as corrupt. She was declared a Saint by the Catholic Church in 1920.Joan’s persecution was less about theology and more about politics—she was a threat to English claims in France and a living symbol of divine legitimacy for Charles VII. Her trial remains one of the most thoroughly documented in medieval history.
Joan’s victories helped shift momentum toward the French, even though she was captured and executed in 1431. The war continued for another two decades, ending in 1453 with a French victory and the near-complete expulsion of English forces from France.
Photo credit Joan of Arc-Hero and History.com
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