Joan of Arc /ˌdʒəʊn əv ˈɑːk $ -ˈɑːrk/ BrE AmE ( also St Joan )
(1412–31) the ↑ patron saint of France. As a young girl, she believed that she heard holy voices telling her to fight the English and force their army to leave France. Dressed as a man, she led a French army which defeated the English at Orléans, and became known as the ‘Maid of Orléans’. Later she was made a prisoner, and a court found her guilty of being a ↑ witch (=a woman with evil magic powers) , and she was punished by being burned to death.