Why does Joan of Arc die on a battlefield in Friedrich Schiller’s The Maid of Orleans?

In Friedrich Schiller’s The Maid of Orleans, the heroine Joan of Arc dies on the battlefield in a blaze of glory rather than at the stake, as occurred in her historical life.1

Schiller categorized this work as a "romantic tragedy," and his decision to alter the historical outcome serves his dramatic vision. By having Joan die heroically during a victorious battle, he departs from the recorded facts of her execution to emphasize a different thematic conclusion for his protagonist. This creative choice aligns with Schiller’s broader approach to drama, where he often explored the moral transformation of his characters, prioritizing the portrayal of their inner triumph or spiritual rebirth over strict adherence to historical events.1