Siege of Compiègne The Siege of Compiègne ( 1430 ) was Joan of Arc ' s final military action . Her career as a leader ended with her capture by the Burgundians during a skirmish outside the town on 23 May 1430 . Although this was otherwise a minor siege , both politically and militarily , the loss of France ' s most charismatic and successful commander was an important event of the Hundred Years ' War . Background . During this era late in the Hundred Years ' War , the politically independent Philip the Good , duke of Burgundy , was allied with England under the regency of John , Duke of Bedford ( who was the uncle of the child King , Henry VI ) . These two allies had conquered most of northern France during the preceding ten years . They suffered stunning losses in 1429 to a reinvigorated French army under joint command of Joan of Arc and Duke John II of Alençon . The French had defeated the English at Patay on 18 June 1429 and had proceeded northeastward to crown King Charles VII of France at Rheims without further resistance , accepting the peaceful surrender of every town along their path . Compiègne was not along that road , its location is north of Paris , but along with several other cities it declared allegiance to Charles VII shortly after his coronation . It had previously been under Burgundian control . Events . Preparation . In March 1430 the French court learned that Philip the Good , the duke of Burgundy planned to lay siege to the city . The count of Clermont delivered a message to the city that Compiègne was his according to legal treaty and demanded a surrender . Residents of the city expressed strong opposition to the demand and the French garrison commander Guillaume de Flavy readied the city for action . Count John of Luxembourg departed for the expedition in command of the vanguard on 4 April . Philip the Good departed from Péronne on 22 April . Meanwhile the Duke of Bedford was waiting at Calais for the arrival of King Henry VI of England , a nine - year - old boy who had recently been crowned king of England . According to Régine Pernoud and Marie - Veronique Clin , Philip the Good planned to retake command of the cities that controlled the river Oise . Bedford supported the strategy in order to protect Ile - de - France and Paris , which was then under Anglo - Burgundian control . King Charles VII of France realized on 6 May that military defense was necessary to protect the town . Joan of Arc had sensed the danger and began making private preparations for war in March , but she had not been granted command of a substantial force since the failed attack on Paris the previous September . By April she had assembled a company of a 300 - 400 volunteers . She departed for Compiègne , possibly without the king ' s knowledge , and arrived at the city on 14 May . Combat . Several minor actions took place in the days that followed . Two days later Captain Louis de Flavy fled artillery bombardment at Choisy and took refuge at Compiègne . On 18 May Joan of Arc attempted to surprise the Burgundians at Soissons , bringing Regnault of Chartres and the Count of Vendôme on the expedition . Residents of Soissons refused them entry and declared allegiance to Burgundy the following day . Joan of Arc then planned a surprise assault against the Burgundians at Margny with the assistance of Guillaume de Flavy , attacking an outpost while it was separated from the main force . Count John of Luxembourg noticed the action by chance while taking a survey of the territory and called in reinforcements . These reinforcements outnumbered the attackers and Joan of Arc ordered a retreat , taking the position of honor at the extreme rear of her forces . Capture of Joan of Arc . The next moments remain a source of scholarly debate . The city gate closed before all the French defenders could return to the town . This was either a reasonable action to prevent the Burgundians from entering the city after they had seized the end of the bridge ; or an act of betrayal by Guillaume de Flavy . In the words of Kelly DeVries , " both the accusers and defenders must in turn either indict or vindicate the character of Compiègne ' s governor , Guillaume de Flavy , and the role he played in shutting off any escape possibility for Joan of Arc on that day . " The French rear guard that remained outside had no alternative to capture . In the description of Burgundian Georges Chastellain : She surrendered to Lionel , Bastard of Vendôme , who was in the service of the Count of Ligny . Although the defense of Compiègne was successful , accusations of misconduct regarding Joan of Arc ' s capture caused the decline of de Flavy ' s career . Citations . " See Joan of Arc bibliography for complete information about reference works used . "