All Rights Reserved. The total French dead may have been more than 6,000, whereas English casualties, dead and wounded, were no more than 500, and may have been as few as 100. Henry managed to subjugate Normandy in 1419, a victory that was followed by the Treaty of Troyes in 1420, which betrothed Henry to King Charles VI’s daughter Catherine and named him heir to the French crown. OPTIONAL: Destroy the University in Voyeni (green) to recover and learn from the great texts stored there. Acquire a Transport Ship in order to send Henry V home to England. The Battle of Agincourt (October 25, 1415), decisive battle in the Hundred Years’ War that resulted in the victory of the English over the French. In 1418 the Burgundian party recovered control of Paris, and…, …and the great victory of Agincourt (October 25, 1415). With Toby Merrell, Ian Brooker, Philip Rosch, Brian Blessed. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. When Henry V acceded to the English throne in 1413, there had been a long hiatus in the fighting. By the end of the bloody, all-day battle, Harold was dead and his forces were destroyed. And look at '24 Hours at Agincourt' by … The English stood their ground as French knights, weighed down by their heavy armor, began a slow advance across the muddy battlefield. On the morning of October 25, the battle commenced. Battle of Agincourt, October 25, 1415, during the Hundred Years' War. Contemporary accounts describe the triumphal pageantry with which the king was received in London on November 23, with elaborate displays and choirs attending his passage to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Date of the Battle of Agincourt: 25th October 1415.. Place of the Battle of Agincourt: Northern France. The third line of the French army, recoiling at the pile of corpses before them and unable to make an effective charge, was then massacred swiftly. Julia Martinez was an Editorial Intern at Encyclopaedia Britannica. He claimed the title of King of France through his great-grandfather Edward III, although in practice the English kings were generally prepared to renounce this claim if the French would acknowledge their claim on Aquitaine and other French lands (the terms of the Treaty of Bretigny). However, a need to reassert his authority at home (as well as his own ambition and a sense of justice) led Henry V to renew English claims in France. Some historians are doubting the Battle of Agincourt’s status as perhaps the greatest military victory against overwhelming odds, while also drawing some modern comparisons. Henry V and the resumption of the Hundred Years’ War, “That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day”, https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Agincourt, The National Archives - The Battle of Agincourt, Eye Witness to History.com - The Battle of Agincourt, Battle of Agincourt - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). with chivalry. On October 25, 1415, during the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453) between England and France, Henry V (1386-1422), the young king of England, led his forces to victory at the Battle of Agincourt in northern France. Teresa Cole has been a teacher for thirty years. He decided to march his army northeast to Calais, where he would meet the English fleet and return to England. The effect of the victory on national morale was powerful. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Since then there had been tension between the nobility and the royal house, widespread lawlessness throughout the kingdom, and several attempts on Henry V’s life. The outcome in Yorktown, Virginia marked the conclusion of ...read more. The Battle of Agincourt was immortalized by William Shakespeare in his play Henry V. Please select which sections you would like to print: While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The war lasted a little over 100 years, from 1337 to 1453. War: Hundred Years War.. After five weeks the town surrendered, but Henry lost half his men to disease and battle casualties. It really is a battle for all time and and all people. Agincourt came on the back of half a century of military failure and gave the English a success that repeated victories such as Crécy and Poitiers. It continued as a series of battles, sieges, and disputes throughout the 14th century, with both the French and the English variously taking advantage. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1. The previous battle of the Hundred Years War is the Battle of Poitiers. OPTIONAL: Destroy the Blacksmith in Amiens (cyan) to recover armor and weapons. His men-at-arms were stationed in the centre, flanked by wedges of archers who carried longbows that had an effective range of 250 yards (229 metres). Cover image by Darren Tan, from ‘Medieval Warfare Special: The Battle of Agincourt’, published by Karwansaray. Eventually the archers abandoned their longbows and began fighting hand-to-hand with swords and axes alongside the men-at-arms. 4. The army received forgiveness for their sins and armed themselves for battle in the morning. 2 (2012): 131-132. The Battle of Agincourt served as the focal point of William Shakespeare’s play “Henry V.”. However, at Agincourt a vast French army of some 20,000 men stood … The struggle began in 1337 when King Edward III of England claimed the title “King of France” over Philip VI and invaded Flanders. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Henry V, painting by an unknown artist; in the National Portrait Gallery, London. As the English were collecting prisoners, a band of French peasants led by local noblemen began plundering Henry’s baggage behind the lines. The Battle of Agincourt became a touchstone of English patriotism indivisible from the name of Henry V. On November 23, he returned to London in triumph, and the play The Famous Victories of Henry Vcemented his win in England’s historical canon. The terrain favoured Henry’s army and disadvantaged its opponent, as it reduced the numerical advantage of the French army by narrowing the front. Common estimates place the English army at about 6,000, while the French army probably consisted of 20,000 to 30,000 men. Details the English victory over the French at the Battle of Agincourt. Grab a copy of our NEW encyclopedia for Kids! The next battle in the British Battles series is the First Battle of St Albans. Moreover, with this outcome Henry V strengthened his position in his own kingdom; it legitimized his claim to the crown, which had been under threat after his accession. His portrayal in three of ...read more, The Battle of Antietam, also called the Battle of Sharpsburg, occurred on September 17, 1862, at Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, Maryland. It lasted longer than Henry had anticipated, and his numbers were significantly diminished as a result of casualties, desertions, and disease. After further conquests in France, Henry V was recognized in 1420 as heir to the French throne and the regent of France. The Battle of Agincourt, fought on October 25th, 1415, has gone down in history as one of the great victories of the English over the French. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Two months before the Battle of Agincourt began, King Henry V crossed the English Channel with some 11,000 men and laid siege to Harfleur in Normandy. Shakespeare further immortalized the battle, using it to end his play on a climactic note. Anne Curry, The Battle of Agincourt (London: Yale University Press, 2015), 196-198. You can learn more about her book by visiting Oxford University Press . Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The English army, led by King Henry V and numbering just under 9,000 men, faced a French army of around 12,000 men. 3. Henry V fought for his life during the fray. The French nobility, weakened by the defeat and divided among themselves, were unable to meet new attacks with effective resistance. The book is divided into thirds. The battle repeated other English successes in the Hundred Years’ War, such as the Battle of Crécy (1346) and the Battle of Poitiers (1356), and made possible England’s subsequent conquest of Normandy and the Treaty of Troyes (1420), which named Henry V heir to the French crown. The night before the Battle of Agincourt, the English priests held Mass. This suggests that the French could have outnumbered the English 5 to 1. The French sources all give 4,000–10,000 French dead, with up to 1,600 Englis… He learnt his military tactics in Wales. To the 100 Years War index. Early in the morning on October 25 (the feast day of St. Crispin), 1415, Henry positioned his army for battle on a recently plowed field bounded by woods. https://www.patreon.com/battlestack/The Battle of Agincourt took place in 1415 and was between England and France during the Hundred Years War. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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