Early Life and Background
Joan of Arc was born around 1412 in Domrémy, a small village in the region of Lorraine, northeastern France. Her exact birth date is unknown, but church records indicate she was baptized in January 1412. Joan was born into a modest peasant family. Her father, Jacques d’Arc, was a farmer and local tenant, and her mother was Isabelle Romée. Joan had several siblings and was raised in a deeply religious environment.
During Joan’s childhood, France was embroiled in the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453), a prolonged conflict between England and France over claims to the French throne. By Joan’s youth, much of northern France was occupied by the English and their Burgundian allies. The French monarchy was weak and fragmented, and the country was rife with social and political turmoil.
Joan was known locally for her piety and devotion to the Catholic faith. From a young age, she claimed to have experienced visions and heard voices, which she identified as saints—Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret. These divine messages reportedly urged her to take action to save France and support the Dauphin (heir apparent), Charles VII, who had yet to be crowned king shutdown123