Orlèans, Siege of

Siege by English forces during the Hundred Years' War of the well-fortified and strategically important city of Orlèans, in central France, from 12 October 1428 until 8 May 1429, when Joan of Arc inspired French forces to liberate the city. Control of Orlèans would have given England access to France south of the Loire.

The English army suffered an initial setback when the Earl of Salisbury was killed by a stray cannon ball on 3 November 1428. He was soon replaced by the energetic Lord Talbot who constructed a bastille (siege fort) at St Laurent, the first of ten designed to encircle Orlèans. In February an English supply column routed its attackers at nearby Rouvray, which further depressed French morale. Then Joan arrived on 29 April 1429. Her presence inspired the French to storm the bastille of St Loup, on the north bank of the river Loire, on 4 May. The next day the French crossed to the south bank to capture a fortified monastery. The English were still confident of holding the fortress complex of Les Tourelles, which included the bridge tower in midstream, but the French succeeded in a gaining a foothold. The tower's garrison surrendered on 7 May and the siege was over.