Power politics in the Late Middle Ages was a man’s game. The medieval vision of government and society was profoundly patriarchal, and assumptions of male superiority shaped almost every aspect of medieval life. There were, however, women who were exceptions to the rule. For the most part, such women enjoyed the advantages of wealth and status. Less common were women, such as Catherine of Siena (1347–1380) and Joan of Arc (ca. 1412–1431), who gained power through their reputation for holiness. Catherine, a nun of humble background who claimed to have experienced mystical visions, was an important participant in the religious and political debates of her day. Joan of Arc, a young woman from a small farming community, convinced many of France’s leaders that God had chosen her to guide the French to victory in the Hundred Years’ War. As you read the documents relating to these two women, ask yourself what made their rise to prominence possible. What precedents could they draw on to help legitimize their participation in arenas usually reserved for men? What special dangers did they face as women who claimed divine authority for their actions?