The two cities central to the Hundred Years' War were Calais and Orléans. The conflict, which lasted from 1337 to 1453, primarily involved England and France, revolving around territorial disputes and claims to the French throne. Calais became a significant port after the English captured it in 1347, serving as a base for further military campaigns in France. Orléans, however, marked a turning point in the war with the pivotal Siege of Orléans in 1428-1429, which saw the French, led by Joan of Arc, lift the siege and galvanize French forces, ultimately contributing to the end of English aspirations in France and altering the war's trajectory.