The Battle of Agincourt

By the year 1415 and the Battle of Agincourt, the English and French had been at war or in some manner of conflict for many years. Over the course of history these two peoples would war one another more than potentially any other people. The Battle of Agincourt however was unique amongst the long list of Franco-English conflicts; for it was in that year that King Henry V of England would not only set in motion the collapse of the French monarchy and his own accession to their thrown, but would also become memorialized throughout history for his decisive victory that day.

The Hundred Years War (1337-1453) for which the Battle of Agincourt is included, was a conflict fought primarily over claims to the French throne. After the ascension of Henry V to the throne of England in 1413, he reignited the argument of claims to the French throne.1 Henry V demanded the French pay vast sums of money as well as grant him numerous territories. When the French King, Charles VI; offered a marriage, a significant sum of money, and an minor enlargement of current English lands in Northern France, King Henry ended negotiations and declared war.2 On August 13th, 1415, King Henry V and 12,000 English soldiers attacked and besieged the French port city of Harfleur. The siege would last longer than the English would hope and in the process cost many English lives, primarily through disease.3 In mid-October, Henry V received word that the French were massing an army under the leadership of Charles d’Albret. Henry V pushed for the English stronghold of Calais in order to reinforce his weakened army.4 The French, who now shadowed the English, followed closely in an effort to bar the English from reaching Calais. Realizing his predicament, Henry V turn...

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...inally named Henry V King of France.15 The Battle of Agincourt not only serves as a testament to English arms and glory of the Medieval period, but also as one of the last battles where the archer was prevalent. With the arrival of gunpowder the era of the English longbow men died at Agincourt.

Works Cited

Battles that changed history: key battles that decided the fate of nations. London: Amber Books, 2010.

Halsall, Paul. "Internet History Sourcebooks Project." Fordham.edu. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1420troyes.asp (accessed December 3, 2011).

"History at OSU | Hundred Years War." History at OSU. http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/archive/hundredyearswar.cfm (accessed December 3, 2011).

Neillands, Robin. "The Hundred Years War: Battle of Agincourt." British Battles. http://www.britishbattles.com/100-years-war/agincourt.htm (accessed December 3, 2011).