St. Joan of Arc Leaders are born, not made. The Great Man Theory states that a “Great Man” would arise, almost like magic, to lead the people in times of need. Was Joan of Arc such a person? Or was she just a disturbed, confused teenager? Or perhaps she was a messenger of God? It is all subject to personal interpretation. In modern times, if you admit you talk to dead people, saints or not, you are considered out of your mind. However, no one can argue the historical fact that before Joan of Arc became involved in the 100 Years’ War, France was doomed to failure. Saint Joan, also known as Jeanne, was born on January 6, 1412, in the Village of Domremy. The village was in the middle of unstable surroundings: The French on one side, the English on the other. She was born as an illiterate, peasant daughter to Jacques d’Arc and Isabelle Romee. Her father was a farmer and the leader of the French Village Domremy during the time of the 100 Years’ War. Joan learned domestic skills and religion from her mother. Around the time she was thirteen, she claimed she could hear voices from Saints such as Michael, Margaret, and Catherine. They told her God would help her if she behaved and attended church regularly. From that point on, the Saints supposedly contacted her three to four times a week. Her vision from God and the Saints told her to recover her homeland from English domination. She petitioned the French Governor Count Robert de Baudricourt at Vaucouleurs to visit the French Royal Court. The governor thought her visions were crazy and refused to let her access the court. Joan did not give up and was eventually able to gain enough support that she could meet with Dauphin, later known as King Charles VII, in Chinon. At this point she was granted a position with the French army. Joan’s military style was much more daring than previous French leaders. They had many victories because she turned the conflict into a religious war and inspired the troops. She was responsible for the coronation of Dauphin when she lifted the siege of Orleans that led to her military victory at Reims. Without this victory, Dauphin would not have been crowned King Charles VII. On May 23rd, 1430, Joan was captured by the Burgundians. Her family was unable to pay the prisoner of war ransom and King Charles VII failed to help. Eventually, she was sold to the English Government and then put on trail for heresy because she rejected the authority of the church in favor of the direct word of God. The trial lasted more than a year. Initially, they were not able to convict Joan. However, she was retried and convicted of heresy and witchcraft when she resumed wearing men’s clothing. This was mainly as an excuse to burn her at the stake on May 30th, 1431. Joan of Arc’s military involvement proved to be the turning point in the 100 Years’ War, which began in 1337. Until she entered the picture, the French had yet to win a military battle. Since she was instructed by God, her military leadership inspired the troops, which led to many successful victories. By 1453, Charles VII and the French military had fully recovered the French territory from the British. They were victorious. With that said, she was considered a highly successful military leader during her short career. For the French, Joan of Arc allowed them to succeed in defeating the British conquerors. She was directly responsible for them retaining their French identity. For that, they were thankful. On the other hand, the British wanted to punish her because she was defeating them left and right. Unfortunately for them, her capture did not stop the French from eventually becoming the victors. Even burning her at the stake, based on some trumped up charges, did not make them seem more prestigious. Joan of Arc was a “Great Man”. This is true because without her, the French people would never have been able to repel the British invasion. France would have ceased to exist. Magically, she arose and won victory after victory, inspired by God, so Charles VII could become the rightful ruler of the French Kingdom. She saved France and for that, she should be considered a Military Hero during the 100 Years’ War. Whether or not she was also a disturbed teenager because she heard voices does not change the fact that she deserved to be recognized as a hero.