April 29, 1429: Joan of Arc enters Orléans Avoiding the Engli | Forteresse Europe

April 29, 1429: Joan of Arc enters Orléans

Avoiding the English, Jehanne d'Arc and her troop arrive at the city of Orleans, which has been under siege for seven months by an invading English army.

On 29 April 1429, coming out of the lowered drawbridge of the Burgundy Gate, the reinforcement sent by Charles VII to rescue and supply the city arrives, as announced three days ago.

Here she is, preceded by her standard proudly carried by her young page Louis de Coutes, Jehanne d'Arc fully armed except for her head, riding a superb white steed offered by the dauphin.

Next to her is John the Bastard of Orleans who has been defending the city for several months and will never leave it again.

They are followed by the troop of 200 lances that Charles VII sends to his good city to rescue it. In the long column, the armour of some of the best captains of the time shines: Ambroise de Loré, Culan, Gilles de Retz, Boussac with their companies.

The town is illuminated by torches flickering above a gathered population, delirious with enthusiasm. The entire garrison of the city's defenders was there to welcome this ardent messenger of Heaven on whom all hopes were based.

And above all, among these warriors, there are also those faithful defenders of the French cause, the Scots who have survived their recent harsh ordeals at Verneuil and Rouvray. They are the Scots who make up a third of our armies, all archers, in splendid red, white and green uniforms bearing the "Fleur-de-Lys" motto on their chests.

Faithful to their traditions as well as to their Gaelic language, these Scots have also preserved the proud warlike fanfare of their ancestors. So as soon as Jehanne enters the city, the pipes, trumpets and bagpipes sound for her the March of the Soldiers of Robert Bruce, the victorious march of the battle of Bannockburn (1314).

After several sorties at the head of her troops, Jehanne forces the enemy to lock themselves in the bastilles around the city. The besiegers in turn become besieged. They have no relations with each other and find it very difficult to support each other.

The Dauphin's troops decided to attack these bastilles one by one... On 8 May, Orléans was liberated!

The fanfares of the first Empire perpetuated the memory of this march. And today, during the taking of arms, "Robert Bruce's Marche des soldats" is, like the "Marche de La Garde Consulaire at Marengo", generally played during the review of the troops by the military authority presiding over the ceremony.

https://jeune-nation.com/kultur/histoire/29-avril-1429-jeanne-darc-entre-dans-orleans