3. Joan of Arc
Known as the Maid of New Orleans, Joan of Arc acted on a vision she saw and changed the course of history. After saints visited her in a dream, the peasant girl disguised herself in armor and pretended to be a man so that she could lead the French army over the English during the Hundred Years’ War.
Joan proved to be an excellent leader, and King Charles VII was quite the champion of her. She gained prominence after a siege and several other swift victories that led to Charles’ coronation.
Joan of Arc was captured by the Burgundian faction, a group of French nobles who had become allies with the English. She was handed over and put on a religious trial for a variety of charges, including cross-dressing. She was found guilty and burned at the stake in 1430. She was only 19 years old at the time.
Joan of Arc would later be exonerated by the French for her bravery. Since her death, she has become a popular figure in literature, painting, film, and other cultural works.
