Saint Joan of Arc.

Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc) is a national heroine of France.  She was a peasant-girl, born in Domrémy, Northern France, on 6 January, 1412.  Her village was in the area now known as Lorraine.  Her parents were Jacques and Isabelle d'Arc.  D'Arc was the family surname.  Below is a photo of the house where she was born and lived.

During this period, the English were invading Northern France.  In fact, even Joan's village had been attacked by English soldiers.
From about the age of twelve years, Joan said that God, Saint Margaret, Saint Catherine and the Archangel Michael spoke to her in visions and told her to lead the French soldiers in their battle against the English. 

When she was about sixteen years old, after four years of hearing voices and seeing visions, she visited the future French King, Charles VII, at his castle in Chinon.  It took her eleven days to arrive there.   After tests and discussions, Charles decided that Joan was sincere.  He allowed her to lead the army against the English who had seized the city of Orléans.  A suit of armour was made for her. 
Below is a photo of the ruined castle at Chinon where Joan visited the future king.  You can see the outline of the fireplace belonging to what was once 'the great hall' (la grande salle).

So, Joan dressed as a soldier in armour and led the French army into battle at Orléans.  Joan and her army won!  Over a period of two years, all her campaigns were successful and as a result Charles was crowned King of France.  Below is a portrait of King Charles VII. This portrait can be seen at Le Musée du Louvre, Paris.  Below, there is also a painting by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres (1854) depicting Joan at the king's coronation.

Below, is a portrait of Joan (painted around 1485) dressed as a soldier.  This portrait is kept at Le Centre Historique des Archives Nationales in Paris.  Below, you can also see her signature. 

Unfortunately, she was captured by enemies (the Burgundians) at the age of nineteen years.  After four months in captivity, they handed her over to the English based in the city of Rouen for a price of 10,000 livres.  The English accused her of witchcraft, dressing as a man and heresy.  During the period of her trial, she was imprisoned in the tower below.

 On 30 May 1431, she was executed by being burnt at the stake in the city of Rouen, Normandy.  The date of her death is her feast day - meaning that every year, on 30 May, she is remembered.  A church has been built in Rouen on the spot where she died. Below is a photo of that church.

She was canonized (made a saint) in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV.   Saint Joan of Arc is the protector of soldiers and prisoners. 
She is also known as The Maid of Orléans (or La Pucelle in French, meaning 'the maiden.') 
Below is a sketch of Jeanne d'Arc.  It is the earliest known image of her.  It was drawn during her lifetime in 1429 by Clément de Fauquembergue. 

     Below is a famous painting of the inquisition of Joan of Arc after her capture. This painting is by Gillot Saint-Èvre (1835) and can be seen at Le Musée du Louvre, Paris.