Half of France was in the hands of England and her ally, the Burgundians. The young prince who became Charles VII was still called the dauphin because he had not yet been given the crown. He lacked money and spirited armies and France was without a leader. That leader appeared in the person of Jeanne d'Arc, a 17 year old peasant girl who was totally unschooled in the strategies of war. Devoutly religious, she had seen visions and heard heavenly voices that told her to go to the dauphin, lead his troops to victory, free France of her enemies and see him crowned king in the great cathedral at Rheims. She was opposed by officials and she was forced to travel across France through enemy territory but so great was her consecration that it enabled her to reach the dauphin, to win belief in her mission, and to ride in shining armor beneath the golden lilied banner as the leader of the armies of France. In battle after battle her armies were victorious, the enemy was beaten back and the dauphin was properly crowned King of France.

She felt that now her mission was accomplished. She no longer heard the heavenly voices. She wished to return to her village but the king presuaded her to continue the campaign. She was captured by the Burgundians at Compiegne, sold as a prisioner of war to the English, abandoned to her fate by an ungrateful king, condemned to death by fire.

Seeing that France lacked leadership, it is possible that Yolanda of Anjou, power behind the throne, saw the opportunity of providing that leadership by exploiting this devout unschooled girl, by placing her astride a white charger at the head of the uninspired army. Even if that be true, it does not detract from one of the most incredibly romantic stories of history -- a story that has inspired painters, writer and sculptors for more than five centuries.