St. Joan was a French peasant girl who gained entry to the French court and announced that she had been sent by SS. Michael, Catherine, and Margaret to lead the French against their English invaders. She was allowed to lead armies into battle, had remarkable success, but was ultimately betrayed to the enemy, who tried her as a witch and burned her at the stake on May 30, 1431.
In portraits the young St. Joan is usually dressed as a soldier and wears the kind of unisex haircut seen at left.
Feast day: May 30
At left, statue in Le Puy, France
Another image:
Nineteenth-century
paintingDocumentation:
Menu