April 29, 1429 - Marching from Blois, Joan of Arc arrives in the besieged city of Orléans at the head of a relief column. Loosely encircled by English forces under Sir William Glasdale, Orléans was on the frontlines of the Hundred Years War. After consolidating her position, Joan moved to lift the siege, first striking and capturing the fort of St. Loup then driving English soldiers away from a position near the fortress of Tourelles. On May 7, Joan's army attacked Tourelles, and after heavy fighting drove the English from the castle. The next day, despite Joan's wounding at Tourelles, the English withdrew from Orléans.

The victory at Orléans was Joan's first major triumph. Born around 1412, Joan (left) claimed to have had visions instructing her to reclaim her homeland from the English. After intial skepticism, she won the favor of Charles VII and was sent to Orléans. In the wake of the victory there, she led French troops in clearing the Loire Valley, retaking Reims, and liberated Paris. On May 23, 1430, Joan was captured near Compiègne by the Burgundians. After being sold to th English, Joan was tried as a heretic and burned at the stake in 1431. To this day, she is considered the national heroine of France.

Photograph Courtesy of Centre Historique des Archives Nationales