Joan of Arc

TL;DR

Joan of Arc, a peasant girl who heard voices (likely auditory hallucinations), convinced the French Dauphin to let her lead an army, relieved the siege of Orleans, and had Charles anointed king at Reims, turning the tide of the Hundred Years’ War. She was captured, tried by English-backed clergy, and burned at the stake at age 19, but her belief and momentum permanently shifted the war’s outcome.

Key insights

• Joan’s symptoms (onset at puberty, multiple hierarchical voices from behind, anger when disobeyed) match perfectly with auditory hallucinations, a symptom of schizophrenia.
• The French Armagnac cause was on the verge of total collapse before Joan arrived; the English and Burgundians were besieging Orleans, the last barrier to crossing the Loire.
• Joan’s ability to unify fractious Armagnac commanders—who could not agree on leadership—was critical because everyone could agree to follow her.