Joan of Arc, a young French peasant woman who claimed divine guidance to lead the fight against English forces in the Hundred Years’ War, met a tragic end on May 30th, 1431. At the age of 19, she was burned at the stake in the marketplace of Rouen, Normandy, a city then under English control. Accused of heresy and witchcraft by a pro-English court, Joan refused to recant her belief in the voices of saints that instructed her to aid the French king. Her execution, a brutal display of power meant to intimidate the French resistance, ultimately backfired. Joan of Arc became a national heroine, and her legacy as a symbol of courage and patriotism continues to inspire to this day.
