At just 17 years old, Joan of Arc convinced the French court to let her lead an army into battle.

In February 1429, Joan of Arc arrived at the royal court in Chinon during a critical phase of the Hundred Years' War. France was deeply divided and the English held the upper hand after the 1415 Battle of Agincourt. Joan claimed to hear the voices of Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret, who told her to drive the English out of France.To verify her claims, Charles VII had her examined by prominent theologians at Poitiers for three weeks. These scholars found nothing but 'humility, virginity, devotion, and honesty' in her character. Because the French were desperate for a miracle, her youth and gender were seen as proof of divine intervention rather than a hindrance.In April 1429, the Dauphin provided her with a suit of white armor and a specialized banner. She joined the army at the Siege of Orléans, where her presence boosted morale and led to the lifting of the siege in just nine days. This victory was the first major French success since the crushing defeat at Agincourt years earlier.Joan’s military career was brief but impactful, ending with her capture by Burgundian forces in May 1430. She was eventually sold to the English and put on trial for heresy. Despite her achievements, she was executed by burning at the stake in Rouen on May 30, 1431, at approximately 19 years old.