Welcome to another bonus episode of Calm History, an extra treat for my Soak Plus members.

The Story of Joan of Arc.

During the Hundred Years' War between the French and the English, a young French peasant girl, born in 1412, gained much fame.

Her name was Joan of Arc.

She was not from a land named Ark, but rather it is believed that her father's name was Dark.

So she was Joan of Dark, which has survived today as Joan of Ark.

Her father may have accidentally planted the seat of her future in her head

by frequently telling her about the sad condition of

France. He explained how the French population had not regained its former size since the black

death of the mid-14th century and how its merchants were isolated from foreign markets.

Additionally, nearly all the fighting of the Hundred Years' War

had taken place in France, he explained to her.

The major problem with this was that the English army used scorched earth tactics

which further devastated the French economy.

She also learned that the King of France was so fearful of a total English victory that he did

not want to be crowned. Joan reflected on all of this and felt great pity for her country. She brooded over the matter so

much that she began to have visions of angels. She also heard strange voices, which said to her,

Joan, you can protect your country from the English.

At last these strange visions and voices made her believe that she had a mission from God,

and she became more determined to try to save France.

When she told her father and mother of her purpose, they tried to persuade her that the visions

of angels and the voices were just dreams.

...