Joan of Arc Had A Famously Volatile Temper

One of the interesting facts about Joan of Arc is she had a famously volatile temper. When given command of the French army, the adolescent peasant didn't think twice to scold illustrious knights for using profanity, acting inappropriately, skipping Mass, or disregarding her combat strategies; she even charged her noble patrons of lacking spine in their interactions with the English.

At her retrial, witnesses said that Joan had attempted to smack a Scottish soldier who had consumed stolen meat. The Scots and France fought together during the Hundred Years' War. As she allegedly drove away, she struck one or two of the mistresses and prostitutes who were traveling with her army. Joan was reportedly angered by the English's personal attacks against her, including their slurs and jokes suggesting she go back to her cows. Transcripts of The Maid's court appearances reveal her temper issues; when a clergyman with a strong regional accent inquired as to what language her voices spoke, for example, she spat back that they spoke French much better than he did.