The Desperate State of France in the Early 15th Century

By 1429, France stood on the brink of collapse. The Hundred Years’ War had dragged on for nearly a century, and the English-Burgundian alliance controlled vast territories including Paris and much of northern France. The Dauphin Charles, later Charles VII, ruled a fractured kingdom from his court at Chinon, his legitimacy constantly questioned due to the controversial Treaty of Troyes that had disinherited him in favor of Henry V of England.

Orléans, the last major French stronghold north of the Loire River, had been under English siege since October 1428. Its fall would open the path for English forces to sweep south into the Dauphin’s remaining territories. The city’s defenders, led by Jean de Dunois (the Bastard of Orléans), had held out through a brutal winter, but supplies dwindled and morale sank as the English tightened their noose with a series of fortified bastilles surrounding the city.

The Arrival of the Maid from Lorraine

In March 1429, an extraordinary figure appeared at Chinon – a 17-year-old peasant girl from Domrémy named Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc). Dressed in men’s clothing with her dark hair cut short, she made an immediate impression on the Dauphin’s court. Despite her humble origins and lack of formal education, Joan carried herself with remarkable confidence, claiming divine visions had commanded her to save France.

After rigorous examination by theologians at Poitiers, Joan convinced Charles to grant her a place in the relief army being assembled for Orléans. She was provided with armor, a banner bearing the image of Christ and two angels, and a small military retinue. Contemporary accounts describe how her presence electrified the demoralized French troops as they prepared to break the siege.

The Military Campaign to Relieve Orléans

The relief operation began in late April 1429. Joan joined a convoy transporting supplies to the besieged city, traveling with commanders including Jean d’Orléans and Gilles de Rais. Against conventional military wisdom, Joan advocated for a direct assault on English positions, but the experienced French captains opted for a more cautious approach, moving along the Loire’s south bank to avoid English strongpoints.

On April 29, Joan entered Orléans to tremendous acclaim from the citizens. Her arrival marked a psychological turning point. Over the following days, she participated in several sorties against English positions. On May 4, French forces captured the bastille of Saint-Loup in their first significant victory. Three days later, they stormed the formidable bastille of Les Tourelles in a bloody assault where Joan was wounded by an arrow but continued to rally the troops.

The final English positions were abandoned on May 8 (the Feast of Saint Michael), marking the complete lifting of the siege after 210 days. The victory sent shockwaves through Europe – an untrained peasant girl had achieved what seasoned French commanders could not.

The Loire Campaign and the Road to Reims

Emboldened by their success, Joan and the French commanders launched a campaign to clear English forces from the Loire Valley. In rapid succession, they captured Jargeau on June 12, Meung-sur-Loire on June 15, and Beaugency on June 17.

The campaign culminated in the Battle of Patay on June 18, where French forces routed an English relief army under John Talbot and John Fastolf. This decisive victory effectively ended English military dominance in northern France and opened the path to Reims, where French kings were traditionally crowned.

Against all odds, Joan escorted Charles VII to Reims, where he was crowned on July 17, 1429. This ceremony, performed with the sacred oil said to have been brought from heaven by a dove for the baptism of Clovis, transformed Charles from a disputed claimant to the anointed King of France.

The Cultural and Political Impact

Joan’s victories had profound cultural and psychological effects:

– She became a living legend, with reports of her deeds spreading rapidly across Europe
– Her success validated Charles VII’s claim to the throne at a critical moment
– She demonstrated that English forces could be defeated in open battle
– Her peasant origins made her a symbol of popular resistance
– The religious nature of her mission reinvigorated French national identity

Contemporary chroniclers struggled to explain her success. Supporters saw divine intervention, while opponents whispered of witchcraft. The Parisian theologian Jean Gerson, though initially skeptical, came to defend her mission in his final writings.

The Siege’s Military Significance

The relief of Orléans marked a turning point in military tactics:

– It demonstrated the declining effectiveness of traditional siege warfare against determined defense
– French forces showed new coordination between infantry, artillery, and cavalry
– The use of psychological warfare (Joan’s letters to the English) became notable
– The campaign highlighted the importance of logistics and supply lines
– It revealed the overextension of English forces in France

The English loss of veteran troops at Orléans and Patay created a manpower crisis they never fully recovered from.

Joan’s Later Campaigns and Capture

Following the coronation, Joan participated in several other military actions:

– The unsuccessful assault on Paris in September 1429
– Campaigns against Burgundian strongholds in the winter of 1429-1430
– Her capture at Compiègne by Burgundian forces on May 23, 1430
– Her subsequent trial and execution at Rouen in 1431

Despite her tragic end, the momentum she created continued. Charles VII eventually reconciled with Burgundy (1435) and by 1453, the English retained only Calais on the continent.

The Enduring Legacy

The Siege of Orléans and Joan’s remarkable intervention:

– Became foundational to French national identity
– Inspired countless works of art, literature, and music
– Led to Joan’s canonization in 1920
– Demonstrated how individual leadership could alter the course of history
– Marked the beginning of the end for English ambitions in France

Today, Orléans still celebrates its liberation annually on May 8, maintaining a tradition unbroken for nearly six centuries. Joan remains one of history’s most extraordinary figures – a teenage girl who changed the destiny of nations through sheer force of will and conviction.