Joan of Arc was a warrior maiden from fifteenth-century France. She lived and fought during the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453), a war which had long-lasting implications for both England and France. Though Joan of Arc was only active in this conflict for about three years (1429-1431), her brief career would prove to be the decisive turning point, and led to the eventual victory of France.

During her involvement in the war, Joan's efforts enabled key French victories. She lifted a six month long siege at the strategic city of Orléans, cleared the way for King Charles VII to be crowned at the city of Reims, and helped the French claim victory in several other battles. Most importantly, she brought a sense of unity among the French, and uplifted the spirits of the soldiers and people who knew her and heard her story. She became a symbol even during her lifetime. Even without her military involvement, she was at the heart of the French resistance, serving as a rallying cry.

Joan is a woman of many faces—remembered in a myriad of ways and portrayed in many lights for different ends: from a martyr to a heretic, from a feminist to a madwoman. She is a French national hero and a figure of extremism. The way she is imagined and portrayed has shifted over the centuries, but at the heart of it all is a girl who, remarkably, was able to speak for herself, whose voice we have recorded, at least in pieces, saved over centuries. 

On the page entitled "The Faces of Joan," there are four videos explaining these versions of her, showcasing how different groups of people have understood her across time. These videos aim to tell Joan's story from these differing perspectives, to highlight how diverse Joan's legacy has been, both during and after her lifetime.

First and foremost, and in her own view, Joan was on a mission from God to save France from the English and their Burgundian allies. She believed was meant to place Charles VII on the throne. She heard voices from God telling her how to succeed. Whether those voices were real or not, none can argue that her mission ultimately succeeded.