Siege of Orléans
| Siege of Orléans | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Hundred Years' War | |||||||
Joan of Arc at the Siege of Orléans by Jules Eugène Lenepveu, painted 1886–1890 | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
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Kingdom of England Burgundian State |
Kingdom of France Kingdom of Scotland | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Thomas Montagu (DOW) William de la Pole John Talbot William Glasdale † |
Jean de Dunois Joan of Arc (WIA) La Hire | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
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5,300 • c. 3,263–3,800 English • 1,500 Burgundians |
6,400 soldiers 3,000 armed citizens | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| More than 4,000 killed | 2,000 killed | ||||||
The siege of Orléans (12 October 1428 – 8 May 1429) marked a turning point of the Hundred Years' War between France and England. The siege took place at the pinnacle of English power during the later stages of the war, but was repulsed by French forces inspired by the arrival of Joan of Arc. The French would then regain the initiative in the conflict and began to recapture territories previously occupied by the English.
The city held strategic and symbolic significance to both sides of the conflict. The consensus among contemporaries was that the English regent, John of Lancaster, would have succeeded in realising his brother the English king Henry V's dream of conquering all of France if Orléans fell. For half a year the English and their French allies appeared to be on the verge of capturing the city, but the siege collapsed nine days after Joan of Arc arrived.