c1250-1500 - The Battle Of Agincourt 1415

Question 1

What did the battle highlight?

Answer 1

Strategy, weapons, leadership and social attitudes

Question 2

How many English troops were there?

Answer 2

5000

Question 3

How many French troops were there?

Answer 3

15000

Question 4

What was the Formation and purpose of the english archers?

Answer 4

They were behind stakes and they would ‘gall’ the french Cavalry from the two woods

Question 5

What was the Formation and purpose of French cavalry?

Answer 5

Charged in reckelessly, followed slowly by the infantry

Question 6

What was the Formation and purpose of english forces?

Answer 6

Launched attacks that stalled the French, while archers joined from both flanks

Question 7

What were the advantages of Henry’s choice of battleground (defensive position)?

Answer 7

• his army was placed at the narrowest point of the battlefield to funnel the french into tighter spaces so they couldn’t overwhelm the english
• flanks were protected by woodland
• long sharpened stakes were set in the ground and angled towards french, impaling charging horses
• english archers used the shelter of woods to fire at the french and provoke a reckless counterattack

Question 8

Role of the english longbowmen?

Answer 8

They fired into the sides, or directly onto the heads of the french cavalry. They could fire 100000 arrows per minute

Question 9

What were the problems that the French Cavalry and infantry faced?

Answer 9

• The french cavalry tried to retreat but met their own advancing infantry
• the french infantry were exhausted, having struggled through thick mud and over the bodies of the dead and injured

Question 10

How did the english fight?

Answer 10

Knights fought on foot, holding the centre, the archers joined from the flanks with swords and daggers. They advanced, causing french to retreat

Question 11

What good decisions did Henry V make?

Answer 11

• He was brave and fought alongside his men

Question 12

What bad decisions did Henry V make?

Answer 12

• his march across france weakened his army
• he was trapped and forced to fight

Question 13

What was the french chivalry?

Answer 13

• a code of behaviour that dictated how they acted in battle. It focused on honourable duels between knights.

Question 14

Why did the french knights not like the Chivalry?

Answer 14

They were outraged at being attacked by archers, they believed this to be unchivalrous and they reacted reckelessly

Question 15

When did the battle begin?

Answer 15

25 October 1415

Question 16

What did the battle of agincourt prove?

Answer 16

The dominance of the longbow