Events of the Battle of Agincourt Flashcards
What was the full date of the Battle of Agincourt?
25th October 1415
What condition was the English army in the night before the battle? (4)
Low morale, reduced numbers, tired & weakened. They had marched over 200 miles in three weeks, and many were still suffering from dysentery.
What were the troop numbers at the battle?
The English had around 6,000
The French side varies wildly from 24,000-100,000, but even at the lower 24,000 they had a huge numerical advantage and were fresh for battle.
What strategic move did Henry make on the morning of the battle?
Henry advance first into a ploughed field to where the woods on either side narrowed.
Why did the terrain (landscape) favour the English?
The woods reduced the numerical advantage of the French army by narrowing the front. This would prevent manoeuvres that might overwhelm the English ranks.
What was the range of the English longbow?
To an effective range of 250 yards or 229 metres.
When did the battle start?
Around 11.00am
Who made the first move & what effect did it have? (3)
The English made a move forward to narrow the gap in the woods on either side, to within range of their longbows and it antagonised the French as they thought they would be dictating the battle.
How did the French react to the English advance & what was the result? (4)
In somewhat disorder the French charged, led by the cavalry, and crossed the muddy ploughed field (it had rained for much of the previous week), this slowed their progress, and many became victims of the longbowmen.
What extra protection had the English made?
The had driven sharpened stakes into the ground at an angle before themselves to protect themselves from the advancing French cavalry.
What did the archers do when they faced a second wave of French attacks? (2)
The archers abandoned their longbows and began fighting hand-to-hand with swords and axes alongside the men-at-arms.
Why did the second French attack fail? (3)
The French knights that poured in found themselves so tightly packed (the field narrowed at the English end) that they were unable to use their weapons effectively, and the tide of the battle began to turn toward the English.
What happened in the English baggage train behind the lines (at the back)? (3)
As the English were collecting prisoners, a band of French peasants led by local noblemen began plundering Henry’s baggage behind the lines.
Thinking it was an attack from the rear, Henry had the French nobles he was holding prisoner killed.
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.
How long did the battle last and what were the casualties on both sides?
The battle probably lasted no longer than three hours and was perhaps as short as half an hour, according to some estimates.
While the precise number of casualties is unknown, it is estimated that English losses amounted to about 400 and French losses to about 6,000, many of whom were noblemen.
