On January 6, 1412, Joan was born to Isabella d'Arc and Jacques d'Arc in a little village called Domremy in eastern France. In 1424, when she was about twelve, while tending her father's sheep, she heard a voice and began to have visions of St. Catherine, St. Margaret and St. Michael the Archangel. St. Catherine and St. Margaret were early Christian martyrs and St. Michael was the archangel and commander of the Heavens that led the army against Satan.

In May 1428, her visions told her to leave the village and aid the king. She obeyed the order and made herself look masculine. Joan's escorts dressed her as a male in case they were captured and for safety while in the field. She would refer to herself as "La Pucelle", the Maiden or Virgin. She asked her uncle, Robert de Baudricourt, for an escort to go to Chinon. He refused at first...