Explanation: Joan of Arc was a French teenage peasant girl during the Hundred Years' War between France and England. Though she had long dreamed of being a soldier, the gender standards of her society forbade it, and her family, specifically, knew of the desire and made it very clear that it was not an option.

In her late teens, however, she supposedly began to hear the voice of God in her head, telling her to drive out the English from France. With the newfound unshakable religious fervor, she convinced several local notables to support her as she made her way to the French court to plead her case. France, which was not doing well in the war, decided to offer her some minimum amount of recognition after she demonstrated both great piety and intelligence.

Joan of Arc would go on to lead the French, in varying states of command authority, to victory in several battles, reversing the previously-poor French fortunes, and gain a number of staunch supporters in the process.

During a period of low-activity in the war, the force she was accompanying was ambushed, and she was captured while leading the rearguard. She was given to the English as a prisoner, who tried her for heresy and witchcraft. Joan made a mockery of the proceedings by skillfully reversing leading questions into demonstrations of her piety. She made several escape attempts, but was recaptured each time; and the French royal court made no effort to ransom or rescue her.

She was eventually executed for wearing men's clothing after being forbidden from the English from doing so while imprisoned, being burned at the stake.

France would go on to win the Hundred Years' War.

I used to have this card, but someone burned it.

Couldn't help myself. She was also great in Star Trek IV, Clue, and the Go-Go's.

"I’m just a teenaged farm girl, baby…"

I remember researching about her and then going down an absolute rabbit hole with her mate Gilles de Rais. Holy shit.

I read a book about her ages ago. I'm sure there are better ones now.

She and what she lived through were really fascinating. I think her name is something most people know, but more people would become interested in history if stories like these received greater attention and less emphasis was placed on "X and Y country fought Z war from this year to this year..."

Teach stories with context.