The miniseries tells the story of Joan of Arc, from her birth in 1412 until her death in 1431.
Joan of Arc is born in 1412 in the village of Domrémy, at the height of the Hundred Years' War. During her youth, she often witnesses the horrors inflicted by both the English and French forces, and when 11 years old she starts hearing divine voices. Her spirit is kept high by the legend of the "Maiden of Lorraine", which states that a young woman, guided by God, will unite France and end the war.
At 17, Joan's village is invaded and burned, and her blind best friend, Emile, killed. She begs God to tell her what she said to deserve this, and the visions come back, telling her to find Charles, the flippant young prince who has neglected his duty, and place him on the throne of France.
Joan leaves her small village to find Charles. She jumps into a livestock cart that is supposedly being taken to the king. Instead, she is taken to Vaucouleurs, where the disbelieving locals refuse to help her Charles. Starving and alone, she finds refuge with a sympathetic nun, who helps her unite the people of Vaucoleurs and build defenses against the English and their Burgundian allies. With this unification and defense work, rumor starts spreading that Joan is the Maid of Lorraine.
Although Joan doesn't seem to believe that she is The Maid, she goes along with it to give the people hope. The lord of Vaucouleurs finally accepts Joan's claims and gives her an escort, a suit of armor, and an introduction to Charles and his court. Joan further demonstrates her gifts when Charles, in an act of spite, attempts to humiliate her by switching identities with one of his couriers; she sees through the imposter's disguise and bows before Charles, declaring that he is the true king.
