Siege of Orleans facts for kids

The Siege of Orleans.

The Siege of Orleans was a very important battle during the Hundred Years' War between France and England. It happened from 1428 to 1429. This siege was a huge turning point for France. It was the first major victory for the French army since the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. It was also the first big success for Joan of Arc, a young French hero, who helped end the siege.

Why Orleans Was Important

The city of Orleans was in a key location on the Loire River. This river was like a natural barrier across France. At the time, the English controlled a lot of northern France. Orleans was the last major city stopping them from moving further south. If the English had captured Orleans, they could have easily connected their lands in northern France with their lands in Aquitaine in the southwest. This would have given them control over almost all of France.

How the Siege Started

The English army began the siege on October 12, 1428. They surrounded the city, trying to cut off supplies and force the French defenders to surrender. For many months, not much happened. The main event before Joan of Arc arrived was a battle called the Battle of the Herrings. In this battle, the English stopped a French convoy trying to bring food, especially salted herrings, to the city.

Joan of Arc Arrives

The siege lasted for several months, and the people of Orleans were losing hope. Then, in April 1429, Joan of Arc arrived. She was a young peasant girl who believed God had sent her to save France. She convinced Charles VII of France, the French king, to let her lead troops to Orleans.

Joan's arrival brought new energy and courage to the French soldiers and the people of Orleans. She led several brave attacks against the English forts surrounding the city. Her leadership and belief inspired the French to fight harder.

The End of the Siege

Thanks to Joan of Arc's leadership and the renewed spirit of the French army, the siege ended quickly. Just nine days after Joan arrived, on May 8, 1429, the English forces gave up and left Orleans. This victory was a huge boost for French morale and a major step towards pushing the English out of France. It showed that the French could win against the English, and it helped Charles VII become the official king of France.

Images for kids

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  Orléans in 1428–9, the time of the siege

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  Thomas Montagu, 4th Earl of Salisbury is fatally injured (illustration from Vigiles de Charles VII).

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  15th century depiction of the battle of Rouvray

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  15th-century depiction of the French troops attacking an English fort at the siege of Orléans

See also

In Spanish: Sitio de Orleans para niños