Agincourt

Question 1

Why did Henry V invade France?

Answer 1

Success abroad would lead to securing his position at home
National pride - wanted to regain land that England had held
Benefits of winning battles - land etc
Wanted to be king of France - genuinely believed he had rights in France due to ancient hereditary claim to throne

Question 2

When did the battle of Agincourt take place?

Answer 2

October (25th (?)) 1415

Question 3

Why was the Battle fairly unexpected for the French?

Answer 3

Battles usually happens during summer

Question 4

What is chivalry?

Answer 4

Have to be personally brave regardless of circumstances - not tactics - would have King at the front where he would be in most danger

Question 5

How did the victory at Agincourt change ideas about chivalry?

Answer 5

Showed that chivalry would not allow you to win a battle against a skilled army

Question 6

Who was chaplain to Henry V?

Answer 6

John Stevens

Question 7

Who was the French commander?

Answer 7

Martial Boucicault

Question 8

What type of soldier was the French army almost exclusively composed of?

Answer 8

Knights

Question 9

Why was the English army at an advantage because they had long-bowmen?

Answer 9

English long bowmen had fearsome reputation.

Question 10

How did Henry recruit some of his longbowmen?

Answer 10

Empties prisons of anyone who could handle a bow well - low class but hardened people on their side

Question 11

How did the archers become so skilled?

Answer 11

By 1415, archery practice = compulsory on Sundays

Question 12

Why was the French army so formidable?

Answer 12

Outnumbered English - approx 2500 French Knights

French Knights equipped with newest armour etc

Question 13

How were the French weakened by factions?

Answer 13

Armagnac and Burgundy factions hate each other more than they hate the English

Question 14

What important port did the English manage to take and how and when did they take it?

Answer 14

Port of Harfleur
5 week siege - captains of Harfleur captured, surrendered and allowed to go free on the condition that they return to the English when the battle = over for ransom - they did this - shows importance of chivalry
14th August 1415

Question 15

When and where did France’s nobles gather ready for battle?

Answer 15

Rouen
September 1415
Thousands arrive - above expectations

Question 16

How many townsfolk in Paris signed up to fight the English and why did they not end up fighting?

Answer 16

6000

Only want nobles on army - shun help of peasants

Question 17

Duke of Barbant’s part in the battle?

Answer 17

Defied his family in fighting in the battle - wanted to prove that he deserved his victory and wanted the glorious victory

Question 18

How did the English treat French civilians? Why?

Answer 18

Went through villages pillaging, torturing etc

Trying to demoralize French

Question 19

Why were the English army losing large numbers of men before the battle of Agincourt?

Answer 19

Campaign = 4 weeks behind schedule and winter coming - short on food - reduced to getting sea fish from polluted water - epidemic of dysentery (the bloody flux) - 1/4 Henry’s army died

Question 20

Why was it a problem having Boucicault as the commander of the French army?

Answer 20

Not the highest born - born a commoner - got to his position through skill and talent, however nobles felt that he was below them - less inclined to follow his commands

Question 21

In what ways was Henry V’s organisation of his campaign advanced?

Answer 21

recruitment-like centers where men could sign up to fight
paid troops
extremely well organised
tried to make sure troops = watered and fed

Question 22

What did Henry V’s troops have to eat instead of meat and bread?

Answer 22

nuts and leaves

Question 23

When and how did the French and English meet for the battle?

Answer 23

English trying to get to safety of Calais, find shortcut across the River Somme, Boucicault guessed they would do this and cut them off

Question 24

What was the French plan in the battle?

Answer 24

Attack English from all sides - English would not have advantage of Bowbek

Question 25

What factors contributed to troops dying in the battle?

Answer 25

raining - boggy ground

horses scared by arrows - tried to jump over men - many crushed

Question 26

Approximately how many French were captured by the English in the battle?

Answer 26

12000(?)

Question 27

What does Henry V do with the French prisoners?

Answer 27

so many of them that he = worried they would try to fight English
ordered prisoners be killed (except for high nobles) - butchered and burnt to death - went completely against chivalry

Question 28

Why was the Duke of Barbant killed despite being a high noble?

Answer 28

so anxious to go into battle that he did not wait for men o put on full armour - due to makeshift armour mistaken for a peasant and killed