Between 1428 and 1429 during the Hundred Years' War between France and England, the city of Orleans was besieged by English forces. The 5000 English soldiers led by Thomas de Montecute attacked for months. Around this time, Joan of Arc appeared at Charles' court and lifted the siege in 1429. This was the major turning point for the French in the war. The events leading up to the Siege of Orleans were primarily victories for the English. . The French were attacking land that King Edward III, King of England, owned in France. "He declares himself king of France, claiming that he can legally claim the throne of France through line of descent through his mother, Isabella of France." (Kip Wheeler) . King Edward of England was not accepted as king of France. He sailed his ship into the waterway between France and England and rammed his ship into French ships in an attempt to gain control of the waterway. He sank some ships, including his own, but did not gain control of the waterway. A few years later, Edward landed in Normandy with around ten thousand men. The French pursued Edward and camped nearby to prepare for battle. The French vanguard, however, decided to lead the attacking force without a plan. The French forces were easily defeated due to the English archers. This was the first major battle leading to the siege of Orleans. The next major battle occurred after ten years of war at Poitiers. Edward invaded France in 1356. Both French and English forces clashed outside Poitiers, and France almost succeeded, but Edward broke their front lines and managed to capture the king of France and two thousand French soldiers. The ransom amounted to almost a third of France's GNP (gross national product) to get... half the paper... The battle marked the end of the fighting in northern France. After being driven from northern France, Henry VI sent an army to Bordeaux in an attempt to conquer at least some territory in France. The French responded by besieging the city of Castillon. In an attempt to lift the siege, the English attack the French forces besieging the city. The English are defeated once again and are driven out of both Castillon and Bordeaux. The only English territory left in France was the coast of Calais, which remained under English control until the mid-1500s. The end of the siege of Orleans really gave the French the morale they needed, with Joan's help of Arc. After France gained a foothold in the heavily fortified position of Orleans, the English were almost no match for France, which is why this major battle marked the turning point for the Hundred Years' War..