henry V, 1413-1422 Flashcards
1
Q
background as prince henry
A
- 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
2
Q
background to the 1415 invasion of France
A
- 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
3
Q
diplomacy and preparations for war, 1413-1415
A
- 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
4
Q
Southampton plot
A
- 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
5
Q
Harfleur
A
- 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
6
Q
post-Harfleur
A
- 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
7
Q
Agincourt
A
- 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
- 9000 English, 12000 French
- 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 Duke of 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
- Duke of Alencon killed in the battle
- granted tonnage and poundage for life by parliament on return to England
8
Q
Causes of the Anglo-Burgundian alliance in 1419
A
- tensions between Duke of Burgundy (John) and Duke of Orleans due to the illness of Charles VI
- 1407: Louis, Duke of Orleans assassinated on orders of John the Fearless
- 1415: French defeat at Agincourt
- 1418: Henry conquers Caen (in Normandy)
- Jan 1419: Henry conquers Normandy by seizing Rouen (one of the leading cities in France) and this allowed him to launch campaigns on Paris
- 10 Sep 1419: John the Fearless is assassinated on the orders of the French Dauphin Charles (Armagnac), Philip the Good inherits the Duchy
- after the assassination, Philip the Good (John’s heir) formed an alliance with the English
9
Q
Significance of the Anglo-Burgundian alliance
A
- crucial to the continued success of the English in France
- alliance with the English from 1419 prevented a French-Burgundian alliance
- English could remain in France
- showed that he supported the faction of Queen Isabella which was more inclined to come to the terms of the English, lead to the marriage of Henry V and Catherine of Valois
- Henry agreed to assist Philip in waging war against the Armagnacs, meant that Henry’s authority in France increased as the dauphin’s decreased
10
Q
Key terms of the Treaty of Troyes
A
- signed 21 May 1420
- Henry was now heir to the French throne which disinherited Charles the Dauphin
- Henry to marry Catherine of Valois (married her on 2 June 1420) which increased the Lancastrian claim to the throne of England and France
- Henry would rule France as regent until Charles VI’s death (assisted by French noblemen)
- Normandy to be reunited with France when Henry became king
- Henry and Duke of Burgundy worked together to prevent Dauphin Charles from seizing power
11
Q
Aftermath of the Treaty of Troyes
A
- December 1420: Parliament began to argue about taxation as Henry’s popularity was decreasing due to consistent taxes as he was always in France. Reluctance to fund campaigns in France
- Henry settled Englishmen in France and made them grants of land and titles in response to financial problems which improved stability in Normandy
- 1421: dauphin attacks Bauje and kills Henry’s brother (Thomas, Duke of Clarence). Henry V returns to France and sieges Meaux
- August 1422: Henry catches dysentery and dies. 9 month old son Henry became King Henry VI
12
Q
What was Lollardy?
A
- anti Catholic Church views
- they had problems with Church wealth and taxation, Pope’s authority, etc.
- John Wycliffe was supported by John of Gaunt and escaped punishment (initial leader of Lollardy)
- many views developed that weren’t linked to Wycliffe’s writings
13
Q
John Oldcastle
A
- he was a leading Lollard knight and head of a conspiracy to murder Henry V
- under Henry V’s patronage, he gained wealth, power and a marriage to a wealthy heiress (gained title of Lord Cobham)
- 1413: Oldcastle arrested and tried for heresy after some letters and manuscripts found. He was found guilty and condemned to death but Henry V spared him and imprisoned him in the Tower
- Oldcastle escaped and fled to the Welsh border, received followers for his rebellion
- Jan 1414: out of intended 20k rebels, only 250 showed up. Plotters arrested
- Oldcastle was on the run for 4 years but he was captured+hanged in 1418
14
Q
Short term significance of Oldcastle
A
- he was a former close associate of Henry V
- early in Henry’s reign, hadn’t established rule properly yet
- Oldcastle on the run for 4 years, had time to gain support
- unsettlement as Henry was about to invade France
- Statute of Lollards in April 1414 which increased the role of secular authorities in investigating heresy, was a deterrent
- strengthened the 1411 Statute of Riots which gave more power to the Chancellor to take action against criminals who had escaped justice
- direct threat to the Church
- fled to the Welsh border = sympathy/support
15
Q
Short term insignificance of Oldcastle
A
- Henry able to show ability and decisiveness regarding the rebellion
- only 220 people known to be involved, 69 convicted of treason and 31 hanged the next day
- badly planned and never likely to get widespread support
16
Q
Long term significance of Oldcastle
A
- had support from many individuals
- tried to conspire w/ enemies of England e.g. Scotland, Wales
- 1415 Southampton Plot (had support of Welsh rebels, French king, etc.) -> a more serious Lollard rebellion
17
Q
Long term insignificance of Oldcastle
A
- no evidence of Oldcastle being linked to further rebellions
- easily put Southampton Plot down
- successful French campaigns led to increased personal authority and power
- no further rebellions after 1415 (Agincourt)
- severe treatment of Lollards e.g. Oct 1416 Oldcastle’s friend executed (he was pardoned in Aug 1415)
