Joan of Arc was born to Jacques, a small farmer, and Isabelle, of a French lower class on January 6, 1412 in the village of Domremy, France. While growing up she was referred to as Jeannette and it was not until later in life until she changed it to Jeanne, la Pucelle, or Joan, the Maid (today she in known as

"Joan" said Saint Catherine, "God asks you to be a warrior maid and lead soldiers into battle". On April 27, just as the sun was rising, and cries of Orleans! Orleans! the whole army got under way. Shining in their armor, this mass of soldiers went marching along the Lorie, by horse and foot carrying crossbows, swords and shields this proud and optimistic army was on its way to make its mark in history.

As a warrior, Joan distinguished herself with her courage and her morals. As a military commander and leader Joan was above reproach, both in her ideals and in her abilities. Joan also rose to her positions of leadership from being a simple peasant, rather than from a background of nobility. As a patriot, Joan virtually defined the nation of France during a time when the word "France" referred to an area of land, rather than a country. As a Christian, Joan did not waver from her faith in God, or in the church as a whole. As a person Joan was a bright, prudent, practical, and humble peasant girl from a small town in Europe who rose up to lead the king to coronation and define the very nation of France.

The continual postponement of capturing Paris only frustrates Joan. At this point here voices told her she would be captured on a midsummer's day and is exactly what happened. On May 24, 1430 at sunrise she gathered as many troops that she could and tried to defeat the Burgundy's. Her 500 men encountered a much more superior force. While they were being pushed back the drawbridge was raised prematurely and many French troops became trapped inside, Joan was amongst them. She was pulled down from her horse and became a prisoner of the Burgundy's. On November 3, 1430 John of Luxembourg sold Joan to the English for the sum, which would amount to several hundred thousand dollars of modern day money. The fact that she was captured and sold to the English came to no surprise to Joan. Before she began her mission she had a vision that told her work would "last for a year and a little longer".

g probably provided a better physical preparation for military life then any aristocratic one's, particularly in the later medieval atmosphere of luxury among the nobility.

by Joan to help nurse the wounded soldiers on the battlefield. She greatly influenced the lives of Annie Oakley and Mark Twain. Joan influenced Churchill and General Charles De Gaulle as well as inspiring the Free French Resistance to Nazi Occupation during World War Two. Down through the centuries she has inspired both artists and authors alike. After Jesus Christ and Napoleon, Joan of Arc is the third most popular subject in western culture.

In 1429, as a part of her preparations Joan asked Hamish Power, a Scotsman living in Tours, France. The standard was made of "buckram" (a material similar to the canvas artists paint on) with a silken fringe. It was 3 feet wide and 12 feet long. One side was field of golden lilies, an image of the King of Heaven seated upon a rainbow, and holding in one hand the world in the form of a globe, the other being raised in a gesture of benediction. Before Him, to right and to left, were the kneeling figures of Michael and Gabriel, each presenting to Him a fleur-de-lys. Joan's motto "Jhesus-Maria was written in letters of gold on this rough material. The other side was an escutcheon, a field of azure charged with a silver dove holding in its beak a streamer with the words "De par le Roy di Ciel."

tly walked to Charles and addressed him: "Most noble dauphin, I am Joan the Maid. I am come and I am sent to you from God to give succor to the kingdom and to you. The King of Heaven sends you, my King under God, word by me...". She eventually persuaded the French King to listen to her and convinced him of the validity of her mission. French fortunes had been so low for so long that the court believed only a miracle could save the country and perhaps Joan was that miracle. Before Charles allowed her to accompany the a

Some common words found in the essay are:
Joan Arc, Charles VII, Orleans Orleans, Saint Loup, Body Christ, French King, Orleans Joan, Earl Suffold, Roman Empire, Michael Gabriel, joan arc, peasant girl, charles vii, dauphin charles, joan army, king charles vii, king charles, charles crowned king, voices told, morale army, english troops, french fortunes, hundred years' war,
Approximate Word count = 3349
Approximate Pages = 13 (250 words per page double spaced)