Today in History; Joan of Arc's trial begins

1431: During the Hundred Years' War, Joan led the French against the English, claiming to hear the voices of St. Michael, St. Catherine and St. Margaret telling her to free France. She was later accused of heresy and tried for communicating with demons and disobedience to the Church. Trying to save her life, she recanted, but retracted her "confession" two days later. She was burned at Rouen, and, since heretics could not receive a Christian burial, her remains were cast into the Seine River.