This Day in History: 1415-10-25
In 1415, King Henry V of England led his men to Victory at the Battle of Agincourt during the 100 Years’ War
Henry V was a great military leader, and even as a teenager, he fought in the Battle of Shrewsbury on the 21st of July 1403 alongside his father, Henry IV. He also fought against the rebellion uprising in Wales that started on the 16th of September 1400, which was led by Owen Glendower, the last native Welshman to rule the throne. The success of the campaign against Glendower stabilised the English rule of Wales.
Henry ascended to the English throne on the 21st of March 1413 (aged 27) in the middle of the “Hundred Years War” (1337-1453) against France. Within two years, King Henry V led his men to success in the Battle of Agincourt against a much larger French army. Originally, Henry landed in France with a force of some 30,000 strong, but after battle, disease and the need to leave men to guard the port for a safe return, Henry’s forces were reduced considerably. With only Victory in mind, Henry continued with his quest and only with 5,000 men. Despite his supplies being low and his men having marched for two and a half weeks, Henry fought in hand-to-hand combat, leading his army to victory against a French force between 30,000 and 10,000 strong on the 25th of October 1415. Between 1417 and 1419, King Henry V continued his military campaign with the “Conquest of Normandy” and the siege of Rouen (31st of July 1418 – 19th January 1419). When Rouen surrendered, the French monarch, King Charles VI, signed the Treaty of Troyes, which gave Henry the hand of his daughter, Catherine of Valois, in marriage and promised the throne to Henry V and his descendants upon his death. On the 2nd of June 1420, Henry married Catherine of Valois, and on the 6th of December 1421, she gave birth to their son Henry.