She continued to lead successful attacks and gained critical ground for the French in stunning victory after victory. On July 16th Charles was finally crowned King of France and Joan knelt by him an called him king for the first time. After more successful campagigns the king enobled Joan and her parents along with her brothers.

Her downfall began in 1430 when she stole into the town of Compiegne and was captured by the Burgundians who sold her to the English. She went on trial for heresy. They say that she rejected the church in favor of inspiration from god. When she rejected to submit to the church she was given her sentence. She was shocked and agreed to recant and her sentence would have been perpetual imprisonment.

She was ordered then to wear women’s clothes and for a few days she did, but when they went to check on her she had put on her men’s clothing once more. She told them that the voices of St. Catherine and St. Margaret had told her that she was wrong for giving into the church against their will.

So at the age of 19, on May 30th Joan was found to be a relapsed heretic and was burned at the stake in Place du Vieux-Marche in Rouen.  As the pyre was lit, she instructed a priest to hold high a crucifix for her to see and shout out her prayers loud enough to be heard above the roar of the flames.

Learn Something Fun: It wasn’t until 1920 that Joan of Arc was noticed and praised as being a great hero of French History. Her feast day is May 30th.