Jeanne d'Arc was born into a rather rich family on January 6th 1412 in  Domrémy, in Lorraine, (east of France).

She was a  very pious girl. At that time, the Hundred Years' War between France and England was a real disaster.

At the age of twelve, Jeanne said she heard "voices". The first time, she was very scared. Those voices ordered her  to free France from the English. She decided to shrug off those voices for four years but  eventually she did what the voices asked her to do. Jeanne left to Vaucouleurs to meet captain Robert of Baudricourt and she convinced him to help her.

Jeanne d'Arc was nicknamed " the Virgin of Orléans"

She managed to meet Charles VII and she conducted an army. Eventually she managed to defeat the English and to take Charles VII to the throne.

After being taken prisoner she was sold to the English in 1430 for ten thousand pounds.

Later she was condemened to be burnt alive, on 30th May 1431, after being tried for heresy.

In 1456 there was another trial and she was  claimed innocent. She was beatified in 1909 then she was canonized in 1920.

She has become one of the best-known Saint Patrons of France. Her national day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May.

The sword of Jeanne of Arc