Rowan's Biography

Jehanne d’Arc

Have you ever wanted to lead armies as a teenager? 598 years ago, someone was born who did.

In the year of our Lord 1412, a female child was born to Jacques d’Arc and Isabelle Romeé. Her name was Jehanne, also known as Joan, or sometimes Jean.

She grew up in Donrémy, and her parents owned 50 acres of land. Another odd fact about her was: She had visions; the first one came to her when she was about 12. She said Saint Michael, Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret told her to drive the English out of France and bring the Dauphin to Reims for his coronation.

Joan d’Arc led many battles, but she was eventually captured by the English. Before her trial, however, she attempted to escape many times, one of them by jumping out of a 21-metre high tower, but was easily recaptured.

Joan d’Arc was trialled and found guilty of heresy, and was burnt at the stake on 30 May 1431. Her remains were cast into the Seine. After her death, however, a retrial was held and she was found innocent. Sadly, she never found out as she was dead crazy (in Seine).

She was an amazing figure in history, in that she led armies as a teenager, never lived to be twenty, and was also a saint.

By Rowan