Siege of Paris (1435–1436)
Who Fought
History & Significance
The siege of Paris of 1435-36 took place during the decisive Lancastrian phase of the Hundred Years' War. The resurgent forces of Charles VII of France, having reversed the tide of the conflict, set their sights on capturing the capital, Paris, which had been controlled by forces loyal to Henry V of England then Henry VI of England since 1420.
The year 1429 saw a dramatic transformation in the military situation of the French during the Hundred Years’ War. At the start of the year, France was on the brink of collapse: much of northern France, including Paris, was under English control, and the city of Orléans was besieged by English forces. Morale among the French was low, and the legitimacy of Charles VII, the Dauphin, was widely doubted. However, the arrival of Joan of Arc marked a turning point. Inspired by her leadership and religious conviction, French forces lifted the Siege of Orléans in May 1429—a victory that reversed years of setbacks. This triumph was followed by a series of swift French advances, including victories at Jargeau, Meung-sur-Loire, Beaugency, and Patay. By July Charles were crowned king at the Reims Cathedral after the successful March to Reims of the French army. Thereafter, the French attempted to capture Paris that September, but failed to do so.
In 1435, Charles sought to make another attempt at the capital. On 9 May 1435, his forces prevailed at the Battle of Gerberoy. Taking advantage of the disrupted English defences, on the early hours of 1 June, Armagnac troops led by the captains of nearby of Melun and Lagny seized Saint-Denis. Paris was now blockaded, making it difficult to supply the city by river or elsewhere. However, attempts to take Paris were complicated by the continuing conflict between the Armagnacs and Burgundians, then later remaining allied with the English.
Having received the reinforcement of the Burgundian troops to support, the French army defeated the English and their reinforcements at Saint-Denis on 6 April 1436, driving them back within the Paris city walls.
Paris was now completely encircled by the French army. Unable to receive food shipments, Parisians had witnessed the price of grain quadruple in two months.
On April 13, Richemont presented himself beneath the city walls. Charles VII had promised a total amnesty, leading to secret negotiations with the Parisian bourgeoisie. Michel de Lallier, Jean de La Fontaine and four other citizens allowed Charles's forces to enter, under the command of Arthur de Richemont and Jean de Dunois, This was achieved using a simple tactic: the bourgeois provoked a riot at the porte Saint-Denis, on the city's northern edge, obliging the English to mobilise their forces in that sector. Paris was then a city of narrow streets, lacking large boulevards that would allow for easy troop movements. This meant that troops needed to travel from one city gate to the next.
The ground they fought on
The site of Siege of Paris (1435–1436) lies on White Chalk Subgroup, bedrock that formed in the Maastrichtian. The rock here is chalk.
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