a 17th- and 18th-century structure; only the churches of Saint-Pierre (12th-13th c.) and
Saint-Aignan (15th c.) retain their medieval character.
R.Thomas McDonald
[See also: CHARLES D’ORLÉANS; DUNOIS, JEAN, COMTE DE; GERMIGNY-
DES-PRÉS; HERESY; JEANNE D’ARC; LOUIS, DUKE OF ORLÉANS; ORLÉANS
CAMPAIGN; THEODULF OF ORLÉANS]
Bautier, Robert-Henri. “L’hérésie d’Orléans et le mouvement intellectual au début du XIe siècle,
documents et hypotheses.” Comité des Travaux Historiques. Section de Philologie et d’Histoire
(1975):63.
Crozet, René. Histoire de l’Orléanais. Paris: Boivin, 1936.
Illiers, Louis d’. Histoire d’Orléans. Orléans: Houze, 1954.
ORLÉANS CAMPAIGN
. The English defeat at Orléans marks the decisive campaign of the Hundred Years’ War.
After their victory at Verneuil in 1424, English armies pushed steadily southward from
Normandy and subdued Maine by 1428. In October 1428, the earl of Salisbury secured
bridgeheads across the Loire above and below the city of Orléans, beginning a siege that
threatened Valois control of the Loire Valley. Salisbury was killed in November but was
quickly replaced by Suffolk and Talbot. French failure to cut off an English supply train
at the Battle of the Herrings, February 12,1429, seemed to confirm the doom of the
Valois citadel.
Jean de Dunois, in command of the garrison, contemplated surrender, but a relief force
led by Jeanne d’Arc entered the city on April 29, restoring both supplies and courage. A
week later, the French counterattacked and the English withdrew in panic. Revitalized
Valois forces inflicted a major defeat on English arms at Patay, June 18, 1429, and,
emboldened by this success, Charles VII traveled to Reims in July for the coronation that
confirmed his title. The failed seige, heroic defense, and brilliant counterattack proved to
be the turning point of the war. After Orléans, the English remained permanently on the
defensive.
Paul D.Solon
[See also: BEDFORD, JOHN OF LANCASTER, DUKE OF; DUNOIS, JEAN,
COMTE DE; HUNDRED YEARS’ WAR; JEANNE D’ARC; ORLÉANS; TALBOT,
JOHN]
Burne, Alfred Higgins. The Agincourt War. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1956.
Pernoud, Régine. La literation d’Orléans, 8 mai 1429. Paris: Gallimard, 1969.
Perroy, Edouard. The Hundred Years’ War. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1951.
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