History and civilization
Orléans was founded as a Gallic civitas (city state) of the Gallic Carnutes tribe, called Cenabum (known erroneously as Genabum).
- In 451, Attila the Hun made an attempt to capture and sack the city, only to be driven off by the last-minute arrival of an army under the combined command of Theodoric, king of the Visigoths, and the Roman general Aëtius.
- It was the capital of the Merovingian king (27 November 511 - 25 June 524) Clodomir (Clodmer) (b. 495 - d. 524) of what was since known as the kingdom of Burgundy.
- The Siege of Orléans in 1428 - 1429 marked a turning point in the Hundred Years’ War. Joan of Arc made her reputation here by lifting the siege nine days after she arrived.