JOAN OF ARC

Born in 1412 in Champagne France

• Did not attend school - never learned to read or write
• Very spiritual - often found at church praying
• Began hearing voices at age 13 - believed to be the voice of God.
• Reason for voices:  God wanted Joan to help Charles VII in fight to retain power & territory over the English
• Convinces Charles VII that voices are real & that her knowledge and assistance would guarantee a crown for Charles.
• Joan goes into battle, dressed in a male's battle uniform, to fight for French territory.
• At times Joan tried to resist the voices' directions believing that since she was a girl she couldn't do anything to help her country.
• She continues on with plight listening to the voices
• Leads troops, made up of all men, and France to victory in 1429.
• 1430 - Joan tried for and convicted of heresy (religious beliefs that differ from the Catholic Church) and sorcery (use of power gained from assistance or control of evil spirits, witchcraft).
• 1431, at 19 years of age, Joan of Arc burned at the stake in Old Market Square at Rouen, France.