Only a fragment of the country was held by his followers, the Orleanists; Scotland had come to his aid with a few thousand men, but what did this avail with the greater part of the kingdom held by the Burgundians, while town after town was declaring its allegiance to the English Duke of Bedford, whom his dying brother, Henry V., had named as regent for his infant son.
The city of Orleans, held by the dauphin's adherents, was besieged.

It was the key to the situation.

Its fall meant the fall of the kingdom, the conquest of France.

When this happened, that infant at the Louvre would really be the wearer of the crown.

So hopeless was the situation that the spiritless Charles was only in doubt whether to take refuge in Scotland or in Spain.
But although towns and cities had deserted him, the heart of the people had not.