Siege of Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier

Part of the Armagnac–Burgundian Civil War

The Siege of Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier was the beginning of Jeanne’s attempt at a consolidation campaign to bring minor strongholds for resistance in the Loire region under the king’s authority. The tiny town was well defended and the initial assault failed, but a second assault insisted on by Jeanne succeeded.

Date: late October to 4 November 1429
Location: Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier, France, France

Outcome: French victory

Principal Combatants.
Burgundians Leadership: Perrinet Gressard
Burgundian Strength: –
Burgundian Casualties: –
Armagnacs Leadership: Jeanne d’Arc. Charles d’Albret
Armagnac Strength: –
Armagnac Casualties: –

The Siege of Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier was a venture of the so-called Lancastrian War. The small town was however heavily fortified and surrounded by a deep moat. According to Jeanne d’Arc’s bodyguard, Jean d’Aulon, the initial assault failed and the retreat was sounded. Jeanne managed to initiate a second assault which, according to d’Aulon, was meet ‘without much resistance’. d’Aulon had been wounded in the heel during the initial assault and was therefore probably mounted on his horse during the second assault.

As the aim to take all enemy strongholds on the Loire banks was put forward, the besieging of Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier was adopted. Jeanne and Charles d’Albret united the forces at Bourges and proceeded onwards to Saint-Pierre-le-Moutier. The defenders put up a vigorous defence. Nonetheless the town was eventually taken by assault. When the town was captured, Charles VII bestowed on Jeanne noble status. On August 24, 1902 a statue of Jeanne d’Arc was unveiled in the city.

Jeanne began sending letters to other towns in an attempt to get provisions for another siege ordered by Charles, this time against the fortified and very well provisioned La Charité. She managed to scrape together enough to proceed.