Siege of Paris (1435-1436)

Siege of Paris
Part of the Hundred Years' War
Entrée de l'armée française dans Paris, 13 avril 1436, oil on canvas by Jean-Simon Berthélemy, 1787, Louvre
Date 1st June 1435 – 17 April 1436 Location Paris, Kingdom of France 48°51′24″N 2°21′07″E ⧼validator-fatal-error⧽ Result French victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of England	Kingdom of France Burgundian State
Commanders and leaders
Robert Willoughby	Ambroise de Loré Arthur de Richemont Jean de Villiers Jean de Dunois

The siege of Paris was contested by the forces of Charles VII of France, commanded by Ambroise de Loré, against the English forces controlling Paris in the final phase of the Hundred Years' War. The siege began on 1 June 1435 and ended with the French recapture of their capital on 17 April 1436.

Background

With the tide of the war beginning to change in 1429 following the appearance of Joan of Arc, the newly crowned Charles VII sought to recapture the French capital, but his siege that year ended in failure. He remained determined to take the city, however, and in early 1435 began new preparations for a siege.

In the spring of 1435, Breton forces commanded by Arthur de Richemont surprised the English forces at Saint-Denis, a short distance from Paris, and briefly took control of the town, but would soon be chased out by English reinforcements.

The Treaty of Arras, signed on 20 September, ended the Armagnac–Burgundian Civil War and resulted in the Duke of Burgundy recognising Charles as the rightful French sovereign. Following this, the royal army would receive assistance from Burgundian troops. At the same time, Parisians tired of English rule began to secretly communicate with the French forces outside the city.

Combattants

English forces

• Approximately 3,000 men, mainly in the city of Paris
• About 2,000 routiers and écorcheurs
• About 3,000 reinforcements in the region

French forces

• The royal army, dispersed in various locations
• The 5,000 soldiers of Arthur de Richemont.
• Burgundian reinforcements

The siege

Having received the Burgundian reinforcements, the French forces defeated an English army at Saint-Denis on 6 April 1436, repulsing them beyond the environs of the city. Paris was now completely encircled by French forces, and could no longer be adequately supplied. The price of grain in the city quadrupled in two months.

On 13 April, Richemont presented himself at the city walls. Charles VII, who promised a complete amnesty, began secret negotiations with members of the Parisian bourgeoisie. Six citizens (Michel de Lallier, Jean de La Fontaine, Pierre de Lancres, Thomas Pigache, Nicolas de Louviers, Jacques de Bergières allowed the troops of Richemont and Jean de Dunois into the city.

The bourgeois used the pretext of starting a riot at the Porte Saint-Denis to oblige the English to mobilise all their forces in that sector of the city. Paris in this era lacked major boulevards, forcing travelers to pass through narrow streets and a series of portes (gates) from one part of the city to another.

Taking advantage of this diversion, the French royal troops then attacked the Porte Saint-Jacques, poorly defended. Once the porte was captured, these troops then easily advanced to Les Halles and then Notre Dame.

During this time, the English found themselves in street combat with civilians, many of whom launched projectiles from their windows. Unsble to resist their attackers, the English were forced to retreat into the bastille Saint-Antoine fortresss. On 17 April, the English garrison was permitted to depart the city to Rouen.

Aftermath

On 12 November 1437, Charles VII became the first French monarch in nineteen years to set foot in the capital. He was struck by the condition of much of the city, which had been damaged from the occupation and civil war and contained numerous empty, ruined houses. Charles permitted all who had left the city to return, on condition that they pledged allegiance to him.

References

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