Joan of Arc: A Military Leader by Kelly DeVries
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Where previous works have concentrated on the religious and feminist aspects of Joan's career, this title addresses the vital issue of what it was that made her the heroine she became. Why did the soldiers of France follow a woman into battle when no troops of the Hundred Years War had done so before, and how was she able to win? The English called her names, and believed her to be possessed, but her own troops trusted her without any proof of her abilities. And she did have very great abilities - in particular her remarkable prowess as a military leader of men. A new angle on one of the most fascinating and enigmatic figures of history.
 
Why did French soldiers follow a woman into battle and why did she win? This history of Joan focuses less on the religious and feminine issues in favor of an appraisal of the young woman's remarkable military and leadership prowess. The inclusion of schematics, maps and contemporary documents set her actions squarely within the context of the Hundred Years' War. Joan's campaign survived only three years, from 1428 to 1430, and the war continued for another 23 years after her capture but DeVries' clear and vivid account makes clear Joan's legacy. She inspired the French by demonstrating that the English could be beaten and she adversely affected the English campaign by capturing several leaders and holding them to ransom.
 
Numerous photographs, diagrams and contemporary illustrations are used to good effect.
 
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Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Joan-Arc-Military-Kelly-DeVries/dp/0750918055