Editing Siege of Orléans (section)

==Background==

===Hundred Years' War===
The siege of [[Orléans]] occurred during the [[Hundred Years' War]], an inheritance dispute over the French throne between the ruling houses of [[House of Valois|France]] and [[House of Plantagenet|England]]. The conflict had begun in 1337 when England's [[Edward III of England|King Edward III]] decided to press [[English claims to the French throne|his claim to the French throne]], a claim based on his status as the son of [[Isabella of France]] and thus of the contested French royal line.

[[File:Treaty of Troyes.svg|upright=1.2|thumb|France, 1428–1429<hr/>
{{legend|#ea8b9d|France loyal to [[Henry VI of England|Henry VI (''II'') of England]] (''[[Dual monarchy of England and France|& France]]'')}}
{{legend|#c896c8|Lands of [[Philip the Good|Philip III of Burgundy]]}}
{{legend|#7f9ad7|France loyal to [[Charles VII of France]]}}<hr/>
{{legend|#c8ccd1|textcolor=#ffff00|text=★|Main battles}}
{{legend|#c8ccd1|textcolor=#ff0000|text=---|[[Battle of Agincourt]], 1415}}
{{legend|#c8ccd1|textcolor=#ffffff|text=---|Journey to [[Château de Chinon|Chinon]], 1429}}
{{legend|#c8ccd1|textcolor=#0000ff|text=---|[[March to Reims]], 1429}}]]

Following a decisive victory at [[Battle of Agincourt|Agincourt]] in 1415, the English gained the upper hand in the conflict, occupying much of northern France.{{sfn|DeVries|1999|pp=20–24}} Under the [[Treaty of Troyes]] of 1420, England's [[Henry V of England|Henry V]] became regent of France. By this treaty, Henry married [[Catherine of Valois|Catherine]], the daughter of the current French king, [[Charles VI of France|Charles VI]], and would then succeed to the French throne upon Charles's death. The [[Dauphin of France]] (title given to the French [[heir apparent]]), [[Charles VII of France|Charles]], the son of the French king, was then disinherited.{{sfn|DeVries|1999|p=26}}

===Geography===
[[Orléans]] is located on the river [[Loire]] in north-central France. During the time of this siege, it was the northernmost city that remained loyal to the [[House of Valois|Valois]] French crown. The English and their [[Burgundian State|Burgundian]] allies controlled the rest of northern France, including [[Paris]]. Orléans's position on a major river made it the last obstacle to a campaign into central France. England already controlled France's southwestern coast.

===Armagnac party===
{{Further|Armagnac (party)|Armagnac–Burgundian Civil War}}
As the capital of the [[Duke of Orléans|duchy of Orléans]], this city held symbolic significance in early 15th century politics. The dukes of Orléans were at the head of a political faction known as the [[Armagnac (party)|Armagnac]]s, who rejected the [[Treaty of Troyes]] and supported the claims of the disinherited and banished [[Charles VII of France|Dauphin Charles]] to the French throne. This faction had been in existence for two generations. Its leader, the [[Charles, Duke of Orléans|Duke of Orléans]], also in line for the throne, was one of the very few combatants from Agincourt who remained a prisoner of the English fourteen years after the battle.

Under the customs of chivalry, a city that surrendered to an invading army without a struggle was entitled to lenient treatment from its new ruler. A city that resisted could expect a harsh occupation. Mass executions were common in this type of situation. Reasoning of the late medieval established that since the city of Orléans had escalated the conflict, it forced the use of violence upon the English, justifying a conquering lord in exacting vengeance upon the citizens. The city's association with the [[Armagnac (party)|Armagnac]] party made it unlikely to be spared if it fell.<ref name=":0" />