Orléans, Battle of

During the Hundred Years' War, English defeat by the French October 1428–May 1429. The English were rapidly conquering France at this stage of the war until this victory turned the tide of French fortunes; thereafter a string of French successes gradually brought the war to an end.

A force of about 5,000 troops under the Earl of Salisbury attempted to take Orléans 12 October 1428. The attempt failed, the Earl was killed, and the English laid siege to the city. They were not present in sufficient strength to seal off the city completely, so that there was no chance of starving out the French, and the siege lingered on until April 1429 when Joan of Arc arrived in Orléans. She took charge of the garrison and led them in a series of attacks on different English positions, taking them one after another until the remaining English, seeing the futility of their enterprise, raised the siege 4 May 1429 and departed.