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Ellen Whyte

Quick facts
Joan of Arc
Nickname: the Maid of Orleans, the Maid of France
Profession: military leader
Famous for: leading the French army into victory
Born: probably in Domremy, France in 1412
Died: May 30, 1431, Rouen, France
Married: no
Teenage army leader
Find words that mean: by custom, dreams, convinced, condemned
When Joan was born, France and England were fighting The Hundred Years War. The English owned a big part of northern France. The French held the southern part.
French kings were traditionally crowned in the city of Reims. As this city was in English territory, the French king had not been crowned. Because of this, he was called the Dauphin (pronounced DAW-fin).
Joan was born in Domremy in Lorraine. This part of France lay between the two armies. Joan grew up in the middle of the fighting.
Joan was very religious. When she was 13 she began having visions. Joan saw St Catherine and St Margaret. They told her to lead the French army to Reims so that the Dauphin could be crowned.
Joan visited the Dauphin and persuaded him to let her travel with the army. Inspired by the girl, the French took back Reims. The Dauphin was crowned Charles VII.
A year later Joan helped the army again. This time she was captured.
The English called Joan a witch and sentenced her to be burnt alive. Charles VII refused to help her. Joan was 19 years old when she was burnt at the stake.
Meeting the Dauphin
Choose the correct alternative:
When Joan told her family about her visions, they didn?t believe her at last/first. However, when Joan had more visions, she told her friends. They did believe her.
As the country was at war, it was safe/dangerous to travel ? especially for girls. Joan disguised herself as a boy, and travelled to the Dauphin?s court.
When Joan and her friends arrived, the Dauphin thought she might be a friend/fraud. He made one of his friends sit on the throne while he hid among the courtiers.
Joan was not deceived by this trick. She went straight to the Dauphin and greeted him as her king/subject. She said the saints had told her how to recognise the king.
Castle warfare
Fill in the gaps: castles, armour, medieval
In Joan?s lifetime, kings and other rich people lived in ________________________. These homes were protected by huge walls, a moat filled with water, and archers who fired arrows at anyone who tried to enter uninvited.
The trebuchet was a _________________________ weapon of mass destruction. It was a huge sling that could hurl a 135 kg stone over a distance of 275 m. Trebuchets could destroy castle walls ? and everyone who stood on top or behind them.
Once castle walls were breached, soldiers fought hand to hand. Rich knights wore suits of _______________________ to protect themselves. They carried swords and shields. Archers and ordinary soldiers wore chain mail vests and carried longbows, crossbows, swords, battle-axes, lances, spears and knives.
True or false?
To test your memory, try answering without referring to the text. If you can?t remember the details, read the piece again.
1 Joan lived during The Hundred Years War.
2 Joan?s family lived at the French court.
3 Joan had visions where saints told her to lead the French army.
4 Joan helped the Dauphin be crowned king in Reims.
5 Joan was burnt alive at the stake.




History-makers Part 14: Joan of Arc - The Maid of Orleans