The siege took place at the pinnacle of English power during the later stages of the war , but was repulsed by French forces inspired by the arrival of Joan of Arc. The French would then regain the initiative in the conflict and began to recapture territories previously occupied by the English.
The city held strategic and symbolic significance to both sides of the conflict. For half a year the English and their French allies appeared to be on the verge of capturing the city, but the siege collapsed nine days after Joan of Arc arrived. The conflict had begun in when England's King Edward III decided to press his claim to the French throne , a claim based on his status as the son of Isabella of France and thus of the contested French royal line.
Following a decisive victory at Agincourt in , the English gained the upper hand in the conflict, occupying much of northern France. By this treaty, Henry married Catherine , the daughter of the current French king, Charles VI , and would then succeed to the French throne upon Charles's death.
The Dauphin of France title given to the French heir apparent , Charles , the son of the French king, was then disinherited. During the time of this siege, it was the northernmost city that remained loyal to the Valois French crown. The English and their Burgundian allies controlled the rest of northern France, including Paris. England already controlled France's southwestern coast. This faction had been in existence for two generations. Under the customs of chivalry, a city that surrendered to an invading army without a struggle was entitled to lenient treatment from its new ruler.
A city that resisted could expect a harsh occupation. Mass executions were common in this type of situation. The city's association with the Armagnac party made it unlikely to be spared if it fell. After the brief fallout over Hainaut in β26, English and Burgundian forces renewed their alliance and offensive on the Dauphin's France in French forces had been largely ineffective before the Anglo-Burgundian onslaught until the siege of Montargis in late , when they managed to successfully force it to be lifted.
