Joan of Arc: How Did An Ordinary 17-Year-Old Girl Become A Commander Of The French Army?
1. Introduction: How Did Joan of Arc Become A Commander?
How did Joan of Arc become a commander?
It sounds impossible, right? A 17-year-old farm girl with no training, no money, no family connections… leading the French army in the middle of a war.
But in 1429, that’s exactly what happened.
France was losing to England. The king was hiding. People had given up. And then Joan showed up wearing armor, carrying a banner, and saying “God sent me.”
3 months later she was in battles. 6 months later she was a national hero.
This is not a myth. This is real. And in this blog I’ll show you step by step how did Joan of Arc become a commander, why soldiers listened to her, and what made her different.
Why her story still matters
Because Joan proved that age, gender, and background don’t decide leadership. Courage does.
2. Joan’s Early Life: Just An Ordinary Village Girl
Joan was born around 1412 in Domrémy, a small village in France.
Her family
Her father was a farmer. Her mother was deeply religious. They had 5 children.
Her daily life
Joan worked in fields. She took care of sheep. She went to church every day.
She couldn’t read well. She never touched a sword.
If you asked anyone in 1425 “who will save France?” nobody would say Joan’s name.
So how did Joan of Arc become a commander starting from here?
3. The Voices: The Moment Everything Changed
When Joan was 13, she said she started hearing voices.
Who were the voices
She said it was Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret.
What they told her
“Be good. Go to church. And save France from the English.”
At first she told no one. But the voices didn’t stop.
By 16, the voices were clear: “Go to the Dauphin Charles. Tell him you will drive the English out.”
This is where how did Joan of Arc become a commander really begins. Not with a sword, but with faith.
4. France in 1428: A Kingdom on the Edge
To understand how did Joan of Arc become a commander, you have to see how bad things were.
The Hundred Years War
England and France had been fighting for almost 100 years.
Orleans was the last hope
If Orleans fell to England, the whole country would fall.
King Charles VII
He wasn’t even crowned. He was depressed and hiding in Chinon castle.
People were losing faith. Priests were saying God had abandoned France.
Into this hopeless place walked a 17-year-old girl.
5. The Journey to Chinon: 150 Miles Alone
In February 1429, Joan made a decision.
She cut her hair
She wore boy’s clothes
She borrowed a horse
And she rode 150 miles through enemy land to reach the French court.
Guards laughed at her. “A girl? To see the king?”
But Joan waited for weeks. She refused to leave.
Finally she got her meeting.
This courage is part of the answer to how did Joan of Arc become a commander. She didn’t wait to be invited.
6. Meeting King Charles: Proving She Was Real
Charles VII was scared and suspicious.
The test
He hid in a crowd and put someone else on the throne.
Joan walked in and went straight to the real Charles.
The secrets
She told him things only he and God knew. About his private prayers.
Charles was stunned.
Then Joan said the line that changed everything: “Give me an army. I will lift the siege of Orleans.”
A king with nothing to lose said yes.
This is the exact moment of how did Joan of Arc become a commander.
7. Getting Armor and Authority: From Girl to Leader
March 1429. Joan is 17.
What Charles gave her
A suit of armor. A horse. A banner. And permission to ride with the army.
Was she a general?
Not officially. The real generals were still men like Dunois and Alençon.
But soldiers started calling her “our commander.”
Why? Because she led from the front. Because she believed.
So how did Joan of Arc become a commander? The king gave her the title. The army gave her the respect.
8. The Siege of Orleans: How Did Joan of Arc Become A Commander in Battle
May 1429. Orleans was starving.
Joan arrives
She came in with food and soldiers. Wearing white armor. Holding her banner.
What happened
She told the French to attack. She was on the front line.
In 9 days, the English siege was broken. They ran.
France had not won a major battle in years.
After Orleans, nobody questioned how did Joan of Arc become a commander anymore. The results spoke.
9. Leading Men: Why Soldiers Followed A 17-Year-Old Girl
This is what confuses historians even today.
She had faith
Soldiers believed God was with her. In 1429, that meant everything.
She was brave
She didn’t hide in a tent. She was in the mud with them. She got wounded and kept fighting.
She was different
She didn’t drink, didn’t swear, didn’t steal. She prayed with the soldiers.
That’s how did Joan of Arc become a commander in their hearts, not just on paper.
10. The Loire Campaign: More Victories
After Orleans, Joan didn’t stop.
Battle after battle
She helped take Jargeau, Meung, and Beaugency.
The big win: Patay
The French crushed the English army.
In 2 months, Joan had turned the war around.
People stopped asking how did Joan of Arc become a commander. They started asking “what can’t she do?”
11. Crowning the King: The Goal Was Complete
July 1429. Reims Cathedral.
Joan stood next to Charles VII as he was crowned King of France.
Why this mattered
For years people questioned if Charles was the real king.
Joan’s mission from the voices was done.
She cried at the ceremony.
This was the peak of how did Joan of Arc become a commander. From village girl to crowning a king.
12. The Downfall: Capture at Compiegne
But the story doesn’t end happy.
May 1430
Joan was defending Compiegne. She was pulled off her horse and captured by Burgundians.
Sold to the English
They sold her to the English for money.
The same army she led… couldn’t save her.
13. Trial and Death: 19 Years Old
The English put Joan on trial for heresy.
The charges
Wearing men’s clothes. Claiming God spoke to her.
The verdict
Guilty.
May 30, 1431. Joan was burned at the stake in Rouen. She was 19.
Even her enemies cried.
14. 10 Reasons How Did Joan of Arc Become A Commander
Let’s break it down clearly.
1. Faith
She truly believed God sent her.
2. Timing
France was desperate. They needed a miracle.
3. Courage
She walked into a king’s court alone.
4. Charisma
People believed her.
5. Results
She won at Orleans.
6. Simplicity
She lived like the soldiers.
7. Vision
She had one goal: crown the king.
8. Stubbornness
She didn’t take no for an answer.
9. Symbol
She became hope for France.
10. God
Whether you believe it or not, she believed it.
That’s how did Joan of Arc become a commander.
15. Legacy:How did Joan of Arc become a commander
500 years later, Joan was made a saint.
In France
She is a national hero. Schools, streets, and statues are named after her.
In military history
She is studied as one of the first female commanders.
The big question
How did Joan of Arc become a commander?
Because she refused to believe she was “just a girl.”
16. Final Words:How did Joan of Arc become a commander
So let’s answer it one last time.
How did Joan of Arc become a commander?
She heard voices and believed them.
She walked 150 miles to a king.
She convinced an army to follow her.
She won battles.
She crowned a king.
All before she turned 18.
Joan of Arc wasn’t born a commander. She chose to become one.
And that’s why 600 years later, we’re still talking about her.
Frequently Asked Questions How did Joan of Arc become a commander
1. How did Joan of Arc become a commander?
The king gave her authority and soldiers followed her because of her faith and victories.
2. How old was Joan when she became a commander?
17 years old.
3. Did Joan have military training?
No. She learned on the battlefield.
4. Why didsoldiers listen to Joan?
Because she was brave and they believed God was with her.
5. What was Joan’s biggest victory?
Lifting the siege of Orleans in 1429.
6. Was Joan officially a general?
No, but she led troops and made military decisions.
7. Why is Joan of Arc important today?
She showed that leadership comes from courage, not gender or age.
