Imagine a teenage peasant girl riding into battle on a white horse, leading soldiers with a banner flapping in the wind. That was Joan of Arc—the fearless hero who changed history when she was only 17!
Joan was born in 1412 in a small village in medieval France. At 13, she began hearing voices of saints—St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret—telling her to save France from English rule and guide the dauphin to his crown.
Despite her youth, Joan convinced a local commander to arm her and give her a small troop. Wearing shining armor, she charged into the Siege of Orléans, her banner held high, inspiring the soldiers to fight with fresh courage.
In just nine days, Joan’s leadership helped lift the siege in April 1429. This stunning victory broke the English grip on Northern France and turned the tide of the Hundred Years’ War, boosting French hope and pride.
Sadly, at 19, Joan was captured by her enemies and burned at the stake. Yet her bravery lived on. In 1920, she was declared a saint. Today, Joan of Arc remains an icon of courage, faith, and the power of one person to change history.
