Importance Of Battle Of Agincourt

1387 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Different perspectives on napoleons invasion of russia

The Battle of Agincourt is often remembered as one of the greatest military victories in English history. The English were severely outnumbered and the composition of the army was highly unusual, consisting of archers at a five to one ratio. Through proper planning, superior battlefield tactics and a bit of luck the English were able to pull off a victory with the odds against their favor. Henry V was crowned as King of England on April 9, 1413, and set his eyes on a military campaign in France shortly thereafter. Knowing an invasion of France would require a rather large naval and land force he began bolstering the English military. Henry saw an opportunity to invade while France was seemingly vulnerable. The French were bogged down in a …show more content…

Through the chaos on the battlefield the main French division trudged on through the muddy battlefield and eventually reached the archers. The archers were pushed back but didn’t break their lines. If the English lines broke there were no reserves to fill in and surely the French could have turned the battle in their favor. However not only did the English longbowmen not collapse, they mounted a counter attack. English archers normally carried small weapons such as daggers and knives as a last resort side weapon, but the archers picked up fallen weapons from their enemy off the battlefield including axes, stakes, swords and spears. It was at this point the heavily armored French division was at a severe disadvantage. Tired and bogged down by their 300 yard advance over the muddy terrain in full plate armor the French stood little chance against the unencumbered and fresh English longbowmen, who in any other situation would find themselves at a disadvantage. The French men-at-arms were so crowded together they were unable to raise their sword arms at times. Eventually the French lines waivered and began to retreat and the battlefield began to clear, Henry V and the English were victorious. The archers took part in some of the general pillaging that followed the battle. Many, however, were forced to sell their plunder and ransom rights for desperately needed food. The dead were buried at the battlefield in mass graves. According to French chronicler Monstrelet there were 5,800 corpses. The area of the battle was eventually hedged in, and in the 18th century a chapel was built there, only to be destroyed during the French

Show More
Related

  • The Importance of the Battle of Monmouth in the American Revolutionary War

    3851 Words  | 8 Pages

    Few, when writing about the American Revolution, list the Battle of Monmouth among the significant battles. It was hardly a bloody battle, with only about seven-hundred total casualties. It was not a decisive battle, it was not a battle in which we gained or lost a key position, and it was not a battle in which we point to as an example of how to conduct an engagement. In fact, it was not a battle in which one can say that the Revolutionaries truly won. Yet, with all this, it was probably the battle that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War. "Beneath a blazing sun at Monmouth Courthouse, it was shown to the rest of the Continental Army that the training of Freidrich Von Stueben had, indeed, paid off. Here, Revolutionists stood toe to toe with the greatest Army in the world, and drove them off the field." Heroes were made here, such as the famous Molly Hays McCauly , better known as Molly Pitcher. In truth, and in accordance with legend, she took up her husband's place at his cannon on Comb's Hill after he had fallen. Another legend that began here was the insanely courageous moves of General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. His hold against the Grenadiers earned him this nickname, which stuck until his death . Truly, this battle sent a rejuvenated spirit across the entire Continental Army. Contrary to popular belief, they could beat the British regulars. This would no longer be by some fluke, or by poor commanding on the British side, but by the excellent fighting that had been instilled on them during the harsh winter at Valley Forge.

    Read More

  • The Events and Impact of the Seven Years War

    1517 Words  | 4 Pages

    At first, the French won many decisive battles with the aid of its allies against the British Empire. Both countries, however, were relatively equal in size and power at the time, but that would soon change. The British began to turn the tide as they made significant leadership changes in government and amassed their army, particularly their navy, to counter the Allied forces.3 With the new change of leadership, Britain began to pour more effort and money into this war.... ... middle of paper ... ...

    Read More

  • Joan of Arc and the Siege of Orleans

    1264 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...battle marked the end of the fighting in Northern France. After being pushed out of northern France, Henry VI sent an army to Bordeaux in an attempt to gain at least some territory in France. The French responded by besieging the town of Castillon. In an attempt to lift the siege, the English attack the French force besieging the town. The English are defeated once more and are driven out of both Castillon and Bordeaux. The only remaining English territory in France was the coast of Calais, which remained in English control until the mid 1500s.

    Read More

  • Major Battles of the American Revolution

    373 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the Battle of Saratoga Horatio Gates along with Benedict Arnold defeated John Burgoyne. Arnold and Gates erected formidable defenses immediately South of Stillwater and then forced the British Army to surrender. This defeat revealed the failure of British strategy. This victory also helped convince France that it could safely enter the war on the American side.

    Read More

  • Battle of Bunker Hill

    1161 Words  | 3 Pages

    British soldiers near death or already dead are scattered around the battle field; soon many more will soon meet the same fate. This is what the beginning of the Battle of Bunker Hill looked like and this is how it ended. It was the Continental Army’s first major victory, even though the British had captured the battle field.

    Read More

  • Henry V - Film

    943 Words  | 2 Pages

    From the very first battle at Harfleur Branagh's low opinion of war is shown. When we first see the fighting, it is dusk and the sky is further darkened by smoke, instantly creating a morbid feeling. Combined with the muddy and wet terrain, the cheerless soldiers and the overbearing size of the castle which they hope to achieve, it is clear not only that the English army must fight against all the odds to win, but that even the conditions are detrimental to the English cause.The scene where Bardolph, Nym and Pistol are backing away from the battle to save themselves is an important inclusion to the film. Had Branagh intended the film to be a glorification of war, this small scene could have easily been removed. However, he chose to keep it in his film because it actually assists the message which he attempts to convey. This scene, although still clearly comical, as Shakespeare intended it to be, it implies that not all soldiers are valiant and brave and that war is so terrible that soldiers are willing to desert their friends and fellow countrymen because of the hideous nature of war.After the battle of Harfluer is won by the English and they begin to make their way towards Agincourt, Branagh seizes the opportunity to show the viewer the 'victorious' army.

    Read More

  • A

    1749 Words  | 4 Pages

    ... were not matched by political successes: although allied with the dukes of Burgundy, the majority of the French refused English domination. Thanks to Joan of Arc, the siege of Orleans was lifted (1429). Then Paris and the lle-de-France were liberated (1436-1441), and after the French army had been reorganized and reformed (1445-1448), Charles VII recaptured the duchy of Normandy (the Battle of Formigny, 1450), and then seized Guyenne (the Battle of Castillon, 1453). The end of the conflict was never marked by a peace treaty but died out because the English recognized that the French troops were too strong to be directly confronted. English territory in France, which had been extensive since 1066 now remained confined to the Channel port of Calais (lost in 1558). France, at last free of the English invaders, resumed its place as the dominant state of western Europe.

    Read More

  • Analysis of William Pitt

    516 Words  | 2 Pages

    This proves that William Pitt did have the techniques to defeat the French. But people might say that he made things worse, because...

    Read More

  • Joan of Arc's Effect on the Hundred Years' War

    907 Words  | 2 Pages

    When the Hundred Years’ War began in 1337, the strength of the French empire declined and the English possessed most of France. Although the war began in 1337, tensions between France and England started centuries earlier. In 1066, William of Normandy, duke of France, defeated the English and became king of England. A century later, conflict arose when Henry II, a great grandson of William, came into power in 1154 and wanted to add to his empire, known as the Angevin Empire, by taking over French territories. Friction mounted as the fighting between Angevin and French territories continued. Finally, King Edward III of England claimed the throne of France in 1328 but was refused, causing war to break out in 1337. The French suffered huge losses in the first period of the Hundred Years’ War. The French cavalry was decimated at Crecy in 1347, the fortress of Calais was lost in 1347, the French army was crushed at Poitiers in 1356, and King John II handed over ⅓ of the French kingdom to the English by the Treaty of Bretigny. Although the French drove out the English b...

    Read More

  • The Battle of France

    2520 Words  | 6 Pages

    The French placed their defense in old, outdated tactics of static warfare. Gone were the days of two sides slugging it out against prepared reinforced defense structures. Closely integrating concentrated armor, infantry, and closely supported by aviation assets all combined to crush France in a matter of only six weeks. France was simply not prepared for this new age of warfare.

    Read More

  • Henry V Christian King Essay

    526 Words  | 2 Pages

    After letting the church convince him to go war something changed in henry. His mood changes because he was ready for war after the unexpected gift of tennis balls from the Dauphin. Henry stated whatever happens it’s the will of God. Yes, the childish gift from the Dauphin offends him but instead of conquering France out of anger. The Church influences him to fight with God on his side and God will lead him to victory. As Henry put all his trust in God that demonstrated another characteristic of an ideal Christian king. Regardless of what he might face, he has no fear because he knows that God is with him.

    Read More

  • Essay On The Battle Of Bunker Hill

    1309 Words  | 3 Pages

    As the British continue to advance toward the hill, Colonel Stark of the American forces ordered the troops to stay in ranks and to fire when Major General Howe’s columns, of the British Army, reached within 35 yards for the redoubt. Once this occurred, the American forces opened fire on the British forces that had advanced close enough to be hit by gunfire, but far away enough to not use bayonets and hand to hand combat, and the Americans were able to keep the British from advancing and forced the survivors to retreat, leaving 96 British troops dead. Howe’s second attempt at taking the hill was executed with the same tactic of trying to attack from the American’s left flank, but this time he had Pigot’s unit assaulting the redoubt directly; however, the British were fired upon heavily once again and were left with a massive amount of casualties. The American forces led by Prescott began to panic and flee the area, due to their inexperience in war, and left Prescott with a force of 150 soldiers, which had little to no gun powder, ammunition, and water. On the other hand, the British decided to change their tactics and Howe decided to order his troops to leave behind their heavy equipment and charge the fortification directly with bayonets in hand to hand combat for his third and

    Read More

  • Henry Vi's Weaknesses

    473 Words  | 1 Pages

    Henry VI had a lot of weaknesses with foreign policy, his inability to make decisions, patronage, Richard duke of York, finance and evil council. With foreign policy he showed weakness in defending his country, after his father Henry VII had conquered land in France, he lost it. He lost Normandy and Gascony in 1451 due to defeat in France. This affected morale and the incomes of nobles because they had lost, reducing their reputation, especially as they had lost some of their own land, and the incomes went down because money was spent on war, so less money was available to give as income. This could have been a reason for the outbreak of conflict because the people would not have been happy with their situation.

    Read More

  • The Hundred Years War

    2098 Words  | 5 Pages

    William, the Duke of Normandy, led an army into England. He won this battle and

    Read More

  • The Battle of Hastings - Why Did William Win?

    819 Words  | 2 Pages

    On the 14th of October 1066, Duke William of Normandy defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings. His win could be summed up by the fact that William was a better leader. Other factors that contributed to William’s victory include: William was better prepared, the English army was severely weakened as Harold had just fought off an invasion in the North of England, and Harold made a fatal mistake of prematurely entering the Battle of Hastings.

    Read More

More about Importance Of Battle Of Agincourt

Open Document