Joan of Arc, first known as Jeanne d'Arc, was born in the village of Domremy, in the Champagne district of northeastern France.
Joan of Arc, first known as Jeanne d'Arc, was born in the village of Domremy, in the Champagne district of northeastern France. She was born on January 6, 1412 and died May 30,1431 at the age of 19. Joan is a French national heroin and a saint of the Roman Catholic Church. She rescued France from defeat during the "Hundred Years War" against England. In honor of her victory she is often called the Maid of Orleans. This is her life.
Joan was born the third of five children to a farmer, Jacques d'Arc and his wife Isabelle de Vouthon in the town of Domremy. Her childhood was spent attending her father's herds in the fields and learning religion and housekeeping skills from her mother. Both parents were intensely pious.
At the age of 13 in the summer of 1425, Joan began having religious 'visions' and hearing what she believed were 'voices' of saints. They started occurring once a week and as she got older they happened daily. She said the voices told her to always behave, obey her parents, pray, etc. Joan claimed these were the voices of St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret, believing that they had been sent by God. These voices told her that it was her divine mission to free her country from the English and help the dauphin gain the French throne. The "voices" never left her, and the townspeople said she was a psychic. The "voices" told her to cut her hair, dress in man's uniform, and to pick up the arms and defend her country. Joan convinced the captain of the dauphin's forces, and then the dauphin himself of her calling. After passing an examination, she was given troops to command and the rank of captain.
Joan was born the third of five children to a farmer, Jacques d'Arc and his wife Isabelle de Vouthon in the town of Domremy. Her childhood was spent attending her father's herds in the fields and learning religion and housekeeping skills from her mother. Both parents were intensely pious.
At the age of 13 in the summer of 1425, Joan began having religious 'visions' and hearing what she believed were 'voices' of saints. They started occurring once a week and as she got older they happened daily. She said the voices told her to always behave, obey her parents, pray, etc. Joan claimed these were the voices of St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret, believing that they had been sent by God. These voices told her that it was her divine mission to free her country from the English and help the dauphin gain the French throne. The "voices" never left her, and the townspeople said she was a psychic. The "voices" told her to cut her hair, dress in man's uniform, and to pick up the arms and defend her country. Joan convinced the captain of the dauphin's forces, and then the dauphin himself of her calling. After passing an examination, she was given troops to command and the rank of captain.
