V. Henry

by
Henry V
Portrait of Henry V
King of England and Lord of Ireland
Reign 21 March 1413 – 31 August 1422
Coronation 9 April 1413
Predecessor Henry IV
Successor Henry VI
Born 16 September 1386
Monmouth Castle, Monmouthshire, Wales[1]
Died 31 August 1422 (aged 35)
Château de Vincennes, France[6]
Burial 7 November 1422
Westminster Abbey, London
Spouse Catherine of Valois
Issue Henry VI
House House of Lancaster
Father Henry IV of England
Mother Mary de Bohun

Henry V (16 September 1386 – 31 August 1422), also called Henry of Monmouth, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1413 until his untimely death in 1422. He served as the second monarch of the House of Lancaster and emerged as a pivotal figure in the Hundred Years’ War through his bold military leadership and strategic foresight. While already celebrated for his decisive victory at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415[8], Henry V also revolutionized the administrative structure of his realm and fostered a sense of emerging English national identity. In 1420, the Treaty of Troyes recognized him as heir to the French throne, a testament to his far-reaching ambitions on the Continent. Although he died in 1422, leaving England and the contested French crown to his infant son, Henry VI, Henry V’s legacy endured long after his passing.

Early Life and Youth

Born at Monmouth Castle in Wales to Henry Bolingbroke (later Henry IV) and Mary de Bohun, young Henry’s childhood was shaped by shifting political winds. In 1398, his father was exiled by King Richard II, leaving the child prince under the care of a monarch whose own rule was precarious. Despite the turmoil, Richard apparently treated the boy well at court, and Henry grew accustomed to the intricacies of royal life from a tender age. The following year, fortune changed again: Bolingbroke returned to England, deposed Richard, and crowned himself Henry IV.

In 1399, the young Henry, then roughly thirteen years old, inherited the titles Prince of Wales, Duke of Lancaster, Duke of Cornwall, and Earl of Chester[9]. His new status catapulted him into the forefront of England’s political sphere. Surrounded by courtiers, knights, and officials, he learned the art of governance, forging alliances, and commanding loyalty—skills that would later become the foundation of his success. By his mid-teens, Henry was participating in the suppression of rebellions, including the Welsh revolt led by Owain Glyndŵr. This on-the-ground experience granted him invaluable exposure to warfare, logistics, and the harsh realities of medieval combat.

One of the most defining moments of his youth occurred in 1403 at the Battle of Shrewsbury. The sixteen-year-old prince took an arrow to the face, narrowly surviving thanks to rapid medical intervention[2]. While the incident could have spelled tragedy, Henry’s unexpected recovery bolstered his image as a resilient leader destined for greater things. His father’s precarious reign, marked by rebellions and ill-health, allowed Henry to briefly wield executive power (1410–1411). Although he was sidelined once the king recuperated, this taste of authority prepared him for a pivotal role upon Henry IV’s death.

Accession and Domestic Rule

Upon Henry IV’s demise in March 1413, the 26-year-old Henry ascended the throne as Henry V. He quickly demonstrated a knack for combining diplomacy with force, aiming to quell domestic unrest and unify the nobility under a common cause. A notable challenge emerged in January 1414, when the Lollard uprising led by Sir John Oldcastle threatened the stability of the realm[3]. Once a mentor and confidant to Henry, Oldcastle had adopted radical religious views that diverged from official orthodoxy. Although he initially evaded capture, his eventual arrest and execution in 1417 ended organized Lollard resistance, reinforcing the king’s image as a decisive ruler intolerant of dissent.

Seeking to strengthen royal finances and governance, Henry initiated several administrative reforms. He standardized certain aspects of tax collection, improved the functioning of local courts, and worked on streamlining the royal council. This drive for centralization paralleled the gradual shift in English governance from feudal traditions to more institutional frameworks. Though overshadowed by his later French campaigns, Henry’s domestic measures contributed to a more stable kingdom, with an eye toward supporting large-scale military ventures abroad. By the time he turned his attention fully to France, Henry enjoyed broad support from most of the English nobility, who anticipated lands and glory across the Channel.

From a cultural standpoint, Henry also showcased a deep reverence for the Church, reinforcing his legitimacy and partnership with ecclesiastical authorities. Clerical backing provided him with a moral and financial foundation for his ambitions. When he inherited the crown, he thus controlled a polity that, while not perfectly tranquil, at least recognized his firm leadership and clarity of vision.

Campaigns in France

Henry V’s reputation is closely tied to his role in the Hundred Years’ War, a protracted conflict between England and France that had begun decades earlier. In August 1415, with around 10,000 men under his command, Henry crossed the English Channel, targeting the port of Harfleur. After a grueling siege, Harfleur capitulated in September 1415. However, severe losses from disease dampened what should have been a straightforward victory. Unwilling to concede, Henry pressed on, planning to march his army to Calais, an English-held stronghold in northern France.

On 25 October 1415, the weary English forces faced a much larger French army at the Battle of Agincourt. Henry’s brilliance lay in his tactical adaptation: he leveraged the muddy terrain, narrow front, and the lethal power of English longbowmen to devastating effect. The outcome was a spectacular English triumph, with French casualties far outweighing those of the English. News of Agincourt electrified England, catapulting Henry into legend. Chroniclers praised his daring and moral fortitude, while ordinary subjects basked in national pride. The French, in contrast, were left to reckon with internal strife and a demoralized nobility.

Shortly after returning to England, Henry capitalized on this momentum. He refined the monarchy’s alliances, including the 1416 Treaty of Canterbury with Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor, though this partnership would prove ephemeral. By 1417, Henry launched a more ambitious offensive into Normandy. French politics at this time were marred by feuds between Burgundian and Armagnac factions. Sensing opportunity, Henry systematically conquered vital Norman towns, culminating in the capture of Rouen in early 1419. The assassination of John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy, that same year nudged Burgundy into English allegiance, further weakening French unity.

The culmination of Henry’s fortunes came with the Treaty of Troyes (May 1420). King Charles VI of France, under pressure and racked by mental illness, recognized Henry as heir and regent of France, simultaneously disinheriting his own son, the Dauphin (later Charles VII). To cement this agreement, Henry married Catherine of Valois[5]. This political arrangement brought Henry the closest any English monarch had come to genuinely controlling France since the early claims of Edward III. Some historians have suggested that, had Henry lived a normal lifespan, he might have realized a dual monarchy over England and France—a scenario that would have drastically altered European politics.

However, Henry’s military campaigns were draining, both financially and in terms of manpower. Rebellions, sieges, and disease took their toll. In 1421, he returned to France once more, committed to subduing all resistance. The siege of Meaux proved especially harsh, pushing Henry’s endurance to the limit. Ravaged by dysentery and exhausted from protracted warfare, he pressed on until victory but paid with his life. On 31 August 1422, Henry died at the Château de Vincennes, never realizing the full promise of the Treaty of Troyes. His remains were honored in Westminster Abbey, but the burden of maintaining his conquests fell upon his infant son, Henry VI, and a regency ill-prepared for the challenges of a divided France and a restless England.

Legacy

Henry V stands out among England’s medieval rulers, not only for his battlefield achievements but also for his profound impact on the monarchy’s development. Contemporaries labeled him a paragon of chivalry, combining martial valor with devout Christianity. His practice of offering prayers before and after major conflicts reinforced the image of a pious, divinely favored king. On the administrative front, Henry championed the English language in government, a move that fostered national identity and reduced the reliance on French or Latin for official matters.

Yet Henry’s early death left a precarious situation. Control of France required continuous resources and strong leadership. The infant Henry VI could not replicate his father’s discipline, leading to a gradual erosion of English holdings on the Continent. By the mid-15th century, the Lancastrian dream of a Franco-English empire dissolved into renewed hostilities and internal crises, culminating in the Wars of the Roses[10]. Nonetheless, Henry V’s reputation transcended these setbacks, buoyed by national pride and romanticized accounts of his reign.

In the centuries following his death, Henry V’s reign was revisited by scholars seeking to interpret his character. Some lauded his strict discipline and unwavering commitment to victory; others criticized his harsh treatment of enemies, including the execution of French prisoners at Agincourt. Modern historians view him as a figure who balanced ambition with statecraft, forging alliances and bridging cultural divides where possible. His endorsement of religious orthodoxy, manifested in his crackdown on the Lollards, reflects the era’s limited tolerance for theological dissent. Still, even critics agree that his accomplishments, particularly in warfare and nation-building, earned him a singular status among England’s medieval rulers.

Few medieval kings have captured the public imagination like Henry V. Shakespeare’s play Henry V, part of the historical tetralogy that also includes Richard II, Henry IV, Part 1, and Henry IV, Part 2, remains the quintessential dramatization of his life and times. Productions of this play often highlight the St. Crispin’s Day speech, with Henry’s rallying cry—“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers”—symbolizing unity and valor in the face of overwhelming odds. Over the centuries, these words have been invoked in various patriotic and motivational contexts.

Film adaptations further cement Henry’s image in modern culture. Laurence Olivier’s 1944 version of Henry V, produced during World War II, served as a morale booster for a Britain under siege. In 1989, Kenneth Branagh revisited the material, crafting a grittier portrayal of the king’s complex character and the brutal realities of medieval warfare. More recently, the 2019 Netflix film The King introduced Henry to a fresh audience, albeit with creative liberties that diverge from historical records.

Beyond stage and screen, references to Henry’s life appear in novels, documentaries, and even video games. Discussions of leadership frequently cite his ability to unify fractious nobles, maintain discipline among troops, and galvanize common soldiers with a potent mix of charisma and religious conviction. This multifaceted image—pious yet ruthless, magnanimous yet unyielding—has kept Henry at the forefront of public consciousness for centuries. Far from a relic of medieval myth, he remains an active symbol, invoked whenever a narrative of heroic kingship or national pride is required.

References

  1. [1] Westminster Abbey – Henry V and Catherine de Valois. Westminster-Abbey.org. (Details Henry V’s birth at Monmouth Castle on 16 September 1386.)
  2. [2] Livingston, Michael (2023). “Prince Hal’s Head-Wound: Cause and Effect.” Medievalists.net. (Description of Henry being struck in the face by an arrow at the Battle of Shrewsbury, 1403.)
  3. [3] “Lollard.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. (Noted that the Lollard rising of 1414 led by Sir John Oldcastle was quickly defeated by Henry V, ending Lollard political influence.)
  4. [4] Ross, David. “Oldcastle’s Revolt – The Lollard Rebellion of 1414.” Britain Express. (Oldcastle escaped the 1414 uprising but was captured and executed in 1417.)
  5. [5] Solly, Meilan. “The True Story of Henry V, England’s Warrior King.” Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Oct 2019. (Explains the 1420 Treaty of Troyes, by which Henry V became heir and regent of France, and his marriage to Catherine of Valois.)
  6. [6] Solly, Meilan. “The True Story of Henry V, England’s Warrior King.” Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Oct 2019. (Notes that Henry V died of dysentery during the siege of Meaux on 31 August 1422, at age 35.)
  7. [7] The Royal Family (official website). “Henry V (r. 1413–1422).” Royal.uk. (Mentions Henry’s patronage of music and that a Te Deum was sung after the Battle of Agincourt.)
  8. [8] Cole, Teresa (2020). “10 things you (probably) didn’t know about Henry V and the battle of Agincourt.” HistoryExtra (BBC History Magazine). (Highlights Henry V’s popularity as a king and his portrayal in Shakespeare’s play Henry V.)
  9. [9] Brain, Jessica. “King Henry V – Warrior King, Shining Example of Medieval Kingship.” Historic UK. (Describes Henry’s early life and that he became Prince of Wales in 1399 upon Henry IV’s accession.)
  10. [10] Solly, Meilan. “The True Story of Henry V, England’s Warrior King.” Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Oct 2019. (Discusses Henry V’s legacy, noting that the failures of Henry VI’s reign led to the Wars of the Roses.)

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