Charles VII decided to send an army to invade Aquitaine. He placed it under the command of the famous Dunois. This marked an important turning point. The war was no longer far away from Aquitaine; it had finally reached the region.
The events surrounding the surrender of Bordeaux and Bayonne clearly show the feelings of the people who lived there. Many of them would have preferred to remain under English rule. At that time, people even said they would gladly have stayed “English” if they had received enough support. However, this support never came. Because of this, the English gradually lost control Strict Observance of the Surrender Terms.
With these events in mind, this marks the closing part of the history of English possessions in that region.
The Fall of Normandy and Its Impact
Normandy was completely conquered by the French in the years 1449–1450. This success gave Charles VII more confidence. At the same time, England was suffering from serious internal disorder. These problems made it difficult for the English to defend their territories abroad.
Seeing this opportunity, Charles VII aimed to remove the English from France entirely. Only one major step remained to achieve this goal: the conquest of Aquitaine.
Growing French Success
Before the main invasion, several French leaders had already made progress. Among them were the Count de Foix, the Count de Pentievre, and the Sire d’Albret. They had gained victories over English garrisons in the region Guided Tour Ephesus.
Then, in May 1451, the king sent the well-known Bastard of Orleans as his lieutenant-general to finish the conquest. This showed how serious the French king was about taking full control of Aquitaine.
Loyalty and Division in Aquitaine
Even at this late stage, many people in Aquitaine still supported England. The region had been connected to England for about three hundred years. Over time, this long relationship had created strong ties. The people had begun to feel less connected to their French neighbors.
However, these loyalties were not enough to save English control. The English government was facing serious internal troubles. Because of this, it could not give proper attention or support to Aquitaine.