Joan of Arc was a French National heroine who became a saint of the
             Roman Catholic Church. She saved the French from defeat at the battle of Orleans. Were it not for her the French government would have fallen and the British would have ruled all of France.
             Joan was born at Domremy, near the city of Nancy. She was born a peasant and therefore, never learned to read or write. She grew up as a devout Roman Catholic with an extremely religious mother. By the age of 13, she claimed to be seeing visions of God and hearing the voices of saints. These voices told her she was destined to help Charles the VII drive the British out of France. At the age of 17 she left to fulfill her mission. At this time the people of southern and northern France recognized two different rulers. The Burgundians of northern France were loyal to the British. The people of southern France were Loyal to Charles the VII. When she made it to the king, he tested her loyalty by staging a coup against himself. Joan still proclaimed Charles as her king. He finally agreed to let her lead an army to relieve the city of Orleans. She broke the siege in only 10 days. She then stood by Charles when he was coronated in July of 1429. Next, Joan tried to capture Paris but was captured by the Burgundians. She was sold to the English in 1430. The English tried her on charges of witchcraft and heresy. She was found guilty and burned at the stake on May 30, 1431. Her ashes were scattered in the Seine River. In 1515 Joan's family demanded a new trial. Pope Callistus III held a new trial and found her innocent. In 1920, Pope Benedict the XV declared her a saint.
             Joan of Arc has been the subject of many literary and works and is admired by patriots, women's rights activists, and even believers in the supernatural. She is memorialized in monuments and works of art throughout the world. People still celebrate Joan's victory o
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