The Siege of Orléans
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Siege of Orleans, when Joan of Arc came to the rescue of France and routed the English army with the help of God. The perfidious English then burnt her as a heretic in Rouen marketplace. At least that’s the story we’re told but the truth involves the murky world of French court politics, labyrinthine dynastic claims, mass religious hysteria and English military and political incompetenceLooking back on the events that followed, the Duke of Bedford wrote to King Henry VI and declared “all things prospered for you till the time of the siege of Orleans, taken in hand God knoweth by what advice”.But what happened at the siege of Orleans, did Joan of Arc really rescue the city and how significant was the battle in changing the course of the 100 Years’ War and the subsequent histories of England and France?
→ Listen on BBC Sounds website
Guests
- Anne Curry
4 episodes
Professor of Medieval History at the University of Southampton -
Malcolm Vale No other episodes
Fellow and Tutor in History at St John's College, Oxford -
Matthew Bennett No other episodes
Senior Lecturer at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst
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Programme ID: b007l3yq
Episode page: bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007l3yq
Auto-category: 944 (History of France)
Hello (First sentence from this episode)
Hello. In 1422, Henry V, warrior hero on his way to conquer France, died, as did King Charles VI of France.