Le Siège d'Orléans (1429) : Comment une bergère de 17 ans a brisé les Anglais en 4 jours

The Siege of Orléans (1429): How a 17-Year-Old Shepherdess Broke the English in 4 Days | History of France Discover the incredible story of the Siege of Orléans in 1429, one of the most spectacular episodes of the Hundred Years' War. How did Joan of Arc, a simple 17-year-old shepherdess from Lorraine, manage to save France in just four days of fierce fighting against the English? The Desperate Context of 1428 In October 1428, France was on the brink of collapse. The English controlled the entire north of the kingdom and were besieging Orléans, the last stronghold protecting southern France. If Orléans fell, Charles VII would lose his kingdom, and France would become an English possession. The Siege of Orléans began on October 12, 1428, under the command of the Earl of Salisbury, then John Talbot, and finally the Earl of Suffolk after Salisbury's death. The Humiliation of the Day of the Herrings On February 12, 1429, the French suffered a humiliating defeat at the "Day of the Herrings," where they were crushed while attempting to intercept an English supply convoy. This devastating battle shattered the morale of the French troops and made the surrender of Orléans imminent. It was in this desperate context that Joan of Arc appeared. The Miraculous Arrival of the Maid of Orléans On February 23, 1429, Joan of Arc arrived in Chinon to meet Charles VII. After convincing the king and passing the examination of theologians in Poitiers, she received armor and a white banner. On April 29, 1429, Joan triumphantly entered besieged Orléans, restoring hope to the population exhausted by six months of siege. Four Days That Changed History From May 4th to 8th, 1429, Joan of Arc led a lightning offensive against the English strongholds. On May 4th, she captured Saint-Loup. On May 6th, the French conquered the Augustinian monastery. May 7th marked the decisive assault on the Tourelles, where Joan was wounded in the shoulder by an arrow but continued to fight despite the pain. The English captain, Glasdale, drowned in the Loire River, and the stronghold fell. On May 8th, 1429, the English lifted the siege and withdrew, defeated. The Key Figures of the Siege This video introduces you to all the major protagonists: Jean de Dunois (the Bastard of Orléans), who defended the city; the French captains La Hire and Poton de Xaintrailles; the English commanders John Talbot and the Earl of Suffolk; and Charles VII, who would be crowned king in Reims two months later. The Consequences of Victory The lifting of the siege of Orléans on May 8, 1429, marked a turning point in the Hundred Years' War. Joan of Arc went on to achieve a series of victories: Jargeau (June 12), Meung-sur-Loire (June 15), Beaugency (June 16-17), and the resounding victory at Patay on June 18, 1429, where the English were massacred. On July 17, 1429, Charles VII was crowned King of France in Reims, definitively legitimizing his power. An Extraordinary True Story This documentary video immerses you in the authentic epic of Joan of Arc in Orléans with precise historical information based on contemporary sources, including the Journal of the Siege of Orléans and eyewitness accounts. Discover how an illiterate teenager transformed a defeated army into a conquering force and changed the destiny of France. Subscribe for more historical content on the Hundred Years' War, great medieval battles, and heroic figures in French history!