Ramparts of Orléans During the Siege

This illustration depicts the ramparts of Orléans during the siege of 1428–1429, a major episode of the Hundred Years’ War. The scene shows the city’s defenses, armed soldiers, siege engines, projectiles, and bodies lying on the ground, evoking the violence of the fighting around the fortifications. The image emphasizes the harshness of medieval siege warfare, the strategic importance of Orléans, and the English threat hanging over the kingdom of France. This context preceded the intervention of Joan of Arc, whose arrival helped turn the situation around.