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1000–1500
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SIEGE OF ORLÉANS
◼
1428–29
The siege at Orléans represented
a turning point for the French in the
Hundred Years’ War. The English had
returned to France in force early in
1428, intent on enforcing Henry V’s
claim to the French throne, armed
by the Treaty of Troyes in 1420. They
had pushed along the Loire Valley and formed garrisons on the
south side of the river opposite the strategic city of Orléans
on the north bank and, on October 12, they isolated it.
The English made initial attacks on the city with some
success, and on October 23, led by the Earl of Salisbury, they
took Les Tourelles, a fort that guarded a river crossing into
Orléans; however, Salisbury was fatally wounded the next
Siege of Orléans
1428–29
◼
NORTH–CENTRAL FRANCE
◼
FRANCE VS. ENGLAND
HUNDRED YEARS’ WAR
2
HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING NEAR ORLÉANS
This 15th-century miniature is
from Le Jouvencel, a semiautobiographical account of experiences in the Hundred
Years’ War by John V of Bueil. Nicknamed “the plague of the English”, Bueil was
a military companion of Joan of Arc’s in her military campaign at Orléans. Here
he depicts ghting between the French and English near the city.
In context
1
JOAN OF ARC PLEADS WITH THE DAUPHIN
A young peasant woman from
Champagne, Joan of Arc is thought to have heard God calling her to go to the
Dauphin, Charles, to help save France. This 15th-century tapestry depicts her
arriving at court in March 1429 to ask the Dauphin to allow her to take a force
to Orléans. Her success made her a target for the Dauphin’s enemies.
2
COUNTERPOISE TREBUCHET
The
trebuchet was an important weapon in the
sieges of the Hundred Years’ War, used both
to break down walls and to throw missiles over
them. It comprised a pivoting wooden “arm”
with a heavy weight at one end and a sling,
containing a projectile such as a stone, at the
other. Their use gradually gave way to cannon
as gunpowder became more readily available.
Heavy
counterweight
Stone
projectile
Pivot
Counterpoise
arm
Double A-frame
support
Sling
day. Over the next month the siege faltered, but the arrival
of the Earl of Shrewsbury in December reinvigorated the
English. They defeated French relief forces at the Battle
of the Herrings on February 12, 1429, and by the spring
Orléan’s starving garrison was close to surrender.
The English had never completely cut o Orléans,
however, and some reinforcements trickled in. The French
were ultimately saved by Joan of Arc, a peasant woman
who had persuaded the Dauphin (heir to the French throne),
Charles, to entrust her with leadership of a new relief
force. On April 30, Joan and her army forced their way
into the city, and on May 4 broke out to join up with
more reinforcements. The English were caught between
the two groups; the French drove them out of several key
positions, and the English lost Les Tourelles on May 7.
Shrewsbury’s army retreated, and the French celebrated
an unexpected victory. For the time being, central France
had been saved, and the Dauphin was crowned King
Charles VII of France in Reims in July.
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