Major influences shaping the biography of Joan of Arc include her deeply religious upbringing and the political turmoil of 15th-century France. Born into a peasant family, Joan claimed to receive divine visions instructing her to support Charles VII in his quest for the French crown during the Hundred Years’ War. Her extraordinary bravery in leading troops into battle galvanized French resistance and helped secure several key victories. Ultimately, Joan’s trial and execution for heresy solidified her legacy as a martyr and national hero, leading to her canonization by the Catholic Church and lasting cultural significance.