Did Joan of Arc fight or was she just a morale booster?

An interesting question! This came up in a comment on answer to Did female warriors, like those often depicted in modern medieval fantasy, actually exist?, and I've been waiting for an opportunity to adapt it as a mainline answer. read more

Joan is a great example, because I think she points out just how different our modern fantasy-based idea of “fighting” is from that of historical fighting people. There is no reason to believe that Joan ever crossed swords with anybody in anger, and pretty good reason to believe that she didn’t. read more

Joan engaged in many other minor battles, always as the leader in the thick of the fight, and was eventually captured by the Burgundians when they raised the drawbridge of Compeigne in May, 1430. She was later bought by the English, who hated and feared Joan, and convicted her of heresy in a mock trial in Rouen which was totally biased and political. read more

Joan of Arc owned at least four swords during her life (which she apparently used the flat of to beat camp-followers), armour (which she offered at St. Denis), and led the charge on the Tourelles at Orleans (bearing the standard), and she ordered the Burgundian Captain Franquet d'Arras beheaded (much to the chagrin of the Burgundians) but she did not swing the sword personally. read more