Jeanne d'Arc, or La Pucelle, the Maid of Orleans became a national heroine and patron
             saint of France in the fifteenth century. She was born to Isabelle de Vouthon and Jacques Darc,
             small peasant farmers in the town of Domremy, near Champagne. She was the youngest of five
             children, and grew up learning to attend in the fields and housekeeping duties. She was quite
             skilled in sewing and spinning. Although illiterate, Joan was taught about religion and was
             known to be a pious child who spent a lot of time in prayer and petition, often kneeling in the
             church in quiet humility. People in her community thought of Joan as exceptionally advanced
             and mature for her age and had the reputation of being a tender hearted individual, especially to
             At around the age of thirteen, Joan became conscious of these voices or "counsel" that
             she heard. These voices were supposedly those of St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret,
             believing that they had been sent by God. At first, she reported just hearing a voice, later, the
             voice(s) were accompanied by a figure. She was somewhat reluctant to speak of these voices. It
             was these voices that revealed her saintly "mission" gradually, that it was her divine mission to
             free her country from the English, aid the dauphin gain the French throne, and became certain
             that she was to go and help the King. It was then she felt urged to present herself to the
             commander of the King for a neighboring town, Robert Baudricourt. He treated her
             disrespectfully and treated her mission with scant respect as well. Her insistence eventually paid
             off, and Baudricourt listened to her announcement of a great defeat that had befallen the French
             arms outside Orleans, which turned out to be the Battle of the Herrings, and officially confirmed
             a few days later, which proved her credibility somewhat to Baudricourt.
             Once Joan had convinced the captain of...