Joan's success relied on an "infectious bravery" that inspired demoralized troops and overrode the caution of veteran commanders. She consistently pushed for aggressive attacks when professionals advised delay. This highlights how a leader's conviction and confidence can become a tangible strategic advantage, transforming a unit's psychology and capacity for risk.

A sudden, favorable change in wind allowing supply barges to reach Orléans was perceived as a divine sign. This event instantly convinced the skeptical commander, the Bastard of Orléans, of Joan's legitimacy. It demonstrates how a single symbolic "victory" can dramatically shift morale and consolidate leadership more effectively than strategic plans.

Her companions noted that despite her beauty, Joan did not inspire carnal desire. This reinforced her image as a holy "maid," making her a non-threatening and divinely sanctioned leader in the hyper-masculine environment of a military camp, where her virginity was a marker of her holiness.

The Dauphin's court did not accept Joan in a vacuum. Decades-old prophecies foretelling that a virgin would save France provided the political and cultural cover necessary to support her seemingly outlandish mission. This pre-existing narrative made her claims plausible and her backing politically defensible.

Joan adopted the martial glamour of a male knight while leveraging the spiritual power associated with female virginity. This unique combination of potent gender archetypes made her an exceptionally compelling and authoritative figure, transcending conventional roles.

The Duke of Alençon, bankrupted and dispossessed by the English, became one of Joan's earliest and most ardent supporters. His personal desperation made him uniquely receptive to her message of divine intervention, showing how radical leaders gain initial traction with stakeholders who have nothing left to lose.

Her primary miracle, the relief of Orléans, was a stunning military success, not a supernatural event. By attributing it to God's will, she created a powerful narrative of divine favor that shattered English morale and galvanized French forces, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The court ritual where Joan "identified" the Dauphin she had already met was a deliberate piece of political theatre. This staged "pantomime" was not a genuine test but a public relations exercise designed to cement the narrative of her divine gifts and the Dauphin's legitimacy in the minds of the entire court.

Joan's dictated letter to the English was not a negotiation but a divine ultimatum. By positioning herself as a "captain of war" sent by the "King of Heaven," she reframed the political conflict as a holy war, a powerful psychological tactic designed to demoralize her opponents by presenting her victory as inevitable.