Though remembered as a fearless warrior and considered a heroine of the Hundred Years’ War between France and England, Joan never actually fought in battle or killed an opponent. Instead, she would accompany her men as a sort of inspirational mascot, brandishing her banner in place of a weapon.

Joan of Arc, a peasant girl living in medieval France, believed that God had chosen her to lead France to victory in its long-running war with England.

A national heroine of France, at age 18 Joan of Arc led the French army to victory over the English at Orléans. Captured a year later, Joan was burned at the stake as a heretic by the English and their French collaborators. She was canonized as a Roman Catholic saint more than 500 years later, on May 16, 1920.

After Joan of Arc’s death, the Hundred Years’ War continued for 22 more years. Throughout the years of fighting and destruction, King Charles VII was able to retain his crown and remain king of France. He declared her innocent of all charges, and declared her a martyr for France.

Joan of Arc is burned at the stake for heresy. At Rouen in English-controlled Normandy, Joan of Arc, the peasant girl who became the savior of France, is burned at the stake for heresy.

As the fire was lit, and spread, she uttered her last words, “Jesus! Jesus! Jesus,” she said, repeating Christ’s name several times before her death.

At her side was a sword, miraculously recovered from beneath the altar of the chapel of Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois, twenty miles south of Tours in central France: the very sword that Charles Martel, grandfather of Charlemagne, the great defender of France against Islam and founder of the French royal line, had …

Excalibur

Coronation sword of

One of the most striking aspects of Joan of Arc (1412-1431) was that her primary weapon was the cannon.

Saint Joan of Arc was about 5 feet 2–3 inches tall, was athletic, had dark brown hair and a somewhat short neck.

Jan

The most famous weapon was the English (or Welsh) longbow of the yeoman archer; while not a new weapon at the time, it played a significant role throughout the war, giving the English tactical advantage in the many battles and skirmishes in which they were used.

The Hundred Years War was fought between England and France and lasted from 1337 to 1453. The war was a series of battles with long periods of peace in between.