henry V, 1413-1422

Question 1

background as prince henry

Answer 1

• campaigns in Wales against Owain Glyndwr
• led ruling council from 1406-1411 during Henry IV’s illness
• won his spurs at the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403 (Hotspur)
• row with Henry IV 1411-12 -> excluded from political influence -> reconciled in 1413

Question 2

background to the 1415 invasion of France

Answer 2

• wanted to regain losses of important French territories (end of Henry IV’s reign/1360 Treaty of Bretigny)
• wanted to marry Catherine of Valois and offered a large dowry -> rejected -> French ambassadors mocked Henry’s youth by sending him a box of tennis balls as toys
• Henry would exploit the weaknesses in French government due to Charles VI’s mental illness and the political divisions

Question 3

diplomacy and preparations for war, 1413-1415

Answer 3

• already a formidable army commander (experienced)
• conciliated with Wales, investigated complaints of oppression from the Welsh, pardons to former rebels
  
  • less risk of Welsh attacks on border, some Welshmen prepared to fight France w/ Henry
• rehabilitated Percy family, granted Hotspur’s son return to England from Scotland and the earldom of Northumberland
  
  • secured the North
• held James I of Scotland prisoner
• truce w/ Duke of Brittany in Jan 1414 (10 years) -> would exploit truce to prevent Bretons from helping France -> isolate France
• raised money and organised indentures from early 1415 through Parliament
• dealing ruthlessly with the 1415 Southampton Plot

Question 4

Southampton plot

Answer 4

• 1415
• led by Richard, earl of Cambridge, Baron Scrope and Sir Thomas Grey
• motivated by anger, frustration and greed. Richard as the poorest earl (title came w/ no land/money) wanted wealth and status, Scrope+Grey wanted Henry V to reward them
• wanted to remove Henry V and replace him with Edmund Mortimer V
• aided by Scot+Welsh rebels, Lollards, partially funded by French
• Mortimer informed Henry V -> rebels executed (Richard friends w/ Henry so only beheaded, not hanged). Mortimer spared and pardoned

Question 5

Harfleur

Answer 5

• army was of 10k-12.5k men
• besieged Harfleur by land and sea, and the French surrendered by 22 Sep
• left a garrison to defend Harfleur
• after this, many men caught dysentry and around 2k-4k men were lost. Many were sent back to England with a sick note

Question 6

post-Harfleur

Answer 6

• Henry V decided to walk through France to either capture more land, show how weak the French were by freely walking through France, or to draw attention away from Harfleur
• French armies were blocked the Somme river crossing points but eventually Henry crossed the river on Oct 18

Question 7

Agincourt

Answer 7

• 25 Oct 1415
• army broken up into 3: Henry V in middle, Edward, duke of York on the right, Thomas, Baron Camoy on the left
• army was made up of 80% archers. They cut down trees and sharpened them into stakes and put them into the ground to use as protection (horses either impaled/turned around). More archers at the back of the French
• French outnumbered the English
• arrows were shot in volleys, overwhelmed the French as they were unpredictable -> French army collided into each other
• French vanguard approaches onto York’s side and kill him. Archers are able to be involved in the melee
• took prisoners but rumours of French backups arriving -> controversial decision to kill the prisoners (except the nobles). Duke of Orleans and Bourbon kept as prisoner