The siege of Bordeaux by King Charles VII, between August and October 1453, is part of the third phase of the

Hundred Years' War The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a conflict between the kingdoms of Kingdom of England, England and Kingdom of France, France and a civil war in France during the Late Middle Ages. It emerged from feudal disputes over the Duchy ...

. It marks the attachment of the city to the crown of

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

and the end of both the English presence in

Guyenne Guyenne or Guienne ( , ; ) was an old French province which corresponded roughly to the Roman province of '' Aquitania Secunda'' and the Catholic archdiocese of Bordeaux. Name The name "Guyenne" comes from ''Aguyenne'', a popular transform ...

as well as in France and of the Hundred Years' War.

Background

On June 29, 1451, the city of Bordeaux surrendered to the troops of Charles VII but it was recaptured a year later by Lord Talbot. On July 17, 1453, the French won the battle of Castillon, which opened the road to Bordeaux for them. The fall of Castillon led to that of the surrounding towns:

Saint-Émilion Saint-Émilion (; Gascon dialect, Gascon: ''Sent Milion'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in Southwestern France. In the heart of the country of Libournais (the area around Libourne), in a regio ...

Libourne Libourne (; ) is a commune in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. It is the wine-making capital of northern Gironde and lies near Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. Geog ...

, Fronsac,

Bourg Bourg or Le Bourg may refer to: Places France Bourg * Bourg, Aisne, a former commune in France, now part of Bourg-et-Comin * Bourg, Bas-Rhin, a former commune in Bas-Rhin, now part of Bourg-Bruche * Bourg, Gironde, also known as Bourg-sur-Gi ...

Blaye Blaye (; ) is a commune and subprefecture in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. For centuries, Blaye was a particularly convenient crossing point for those who came from the north and went to Bordeaux or fur ...

. Bordeaux thus finds itself surrounded.

Operation

On August 13, 1453, the King of France, Charles VII, arrived in person at the Château de Montferrand on the Ambès peninsula to direct the siege operations. The fleet is placed under the command of Jean de Bueil, admiral of France. Charles VII had defense works built to protect his army in the open countryside, in particular near Lormont. The city of Bordeaux is protected by three walls and around twenty large towers; 8,000 men ensured its defense, they resisted for two months. The fall of Cadillac and then of the

Château de Blanquefort Château de Blanquefort is a ruined castle in the '' commune'' of Blanquefort in the Gironde ''département'' of France.Ministry of CultureChâteau de Blanquefort Description The castle stands on a spur overlooking the Briolance valley. A class ...

in September diminished the hopes of the people of Bordeaux; moreover, the rich merchants feared seeing their hotels destroyed by Jean Bureau's artillery. Charles VII receives reinforcements from fifteen Burgundian ships, sent by Philip the Good. The plague having reached the king's army, the latter agreed to show clemency towards the defenders of Bordeaux, in order to conclude the negotiations promptly; moreover, the supply of the French armies was hampered by the Gascons who led a scorched earth policy. A treaty was signed on October 9 between the king and nine Bordeaux notables in Montferrand; it provides for the payment of 100,000 crowns by the city of Bordeaux and the release of French prisoners without ransom. Twenty people from Bordeaux, designated by the king, suffered the penalty of banishment, including the lord of Landiras and that of Duras. On October 12, the Bordeaux people delivered twelve hostages, six English and six Gascons, as guarantee. The English left the city with the honors of war, the troops of Charles VII entered there on October 19.

Consequences

The king did not deign to enter Bordeaux, he promised to leave the administration of the city to the people of Bordeaux but in reality he reserved the choice of the mayor, five jurats and the city clerk. A tax was applied to the export of wine, at a rate of 25 cents per barrel. The capture of the city by the French and the loss of its privileges led to the emigration of many nobles and bourgeois to England.

References

{{coord missing, France Conflicts in 1453 Sieges of the Hundred Years' War