Battle of Agincourt 1415 - Henry V & the Hundred Years War
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- Опубліковано 3 лип 2024
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The Battle of Agincourt was fought between the English and French on the 25th October 1415.
It resulted in one of the most comprehensive victories the English ever achieved over their historic enemy.
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Fought during the hundred years war (100 years war) the battle saw a heavily outnumbered English army under King Henry V win an outstanding victory.
Once more, as in two of the other great English victories in the Hundred Years War (the battles of Crecy & Poitiers), it was the English archers who did the damage.
Indeed, the majority of Henry V's army at the battle of Agincourt were archers.
After less than 3 hours of fighting somewhere between 6 - 8,000 French soldiers had been killed.
Over 100 of the great lords of France lay dead on the muddy field, including 3 dukes, 9 counts, an Archbishop and the Constable of France himself, Charles D’Albret.
It was so devastating that it would take the French nearly 15 years to recover.
In return, the English had lost somewhere in the region of 400 dead.
The victory at the battle of Agincourt brought forward a surge in English patriotism and cemented Henry V's legitimacy on the throne.
But it did something more, it helped mould the English identity.
A spirit of the plucky underdog, sticking their two fingers up, who will keep fighting no matter what the odds.
It continues to be part of that national character to this day.
It also gave us the "Band of Brothers" speech (from Shakespeare's play, "Henry V") and the legend of the two-fingered insult.
The Battle of Agincourt 1415.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:02 Hundred Years War
2:10 Henry V
4:18 Siege of Harfleur
5:42 March to Calais
7:11 Meet the French
8:55 Eve of Battle
9:58 St. Crispin's Day
11:01 French Army
13:04 Band of Brothers
14:15 Battle of Agincourt
16:24 English Archers
18:05 Death In The Mud
21:10 Killing of Prisoners
22:17 English Victory
23:36 A "What If?" Moment
24:41 The Story Continues
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/ thehistorychap
My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or UA-cam animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"
Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
![The Battle of Agincourt | Unravelling a Most Famous Victory | Hundred Years War [Episode 14]](/img/n.gif)
Thanks for joining me today & apologies for the delayed start.
I commented earlier I was looking forward to this.
I am now going to relax put my feet up with a scotch and enjoy your great content.
Bravo Sir and cheers 👍🏴
Happy St Crispin's day everyone😊
And to you!
Don't forget the battle of Balaclava on 25 Oct. 1854. 😮
The patron saint of all trades of Leather worker. As one I'll never forget the anniversary of Agincourt!
An to you. Yesterday 28th October 1664. Is a historic day too. The formation of a Regiment that became . HM Royal Marines, God Save our King.
Great video. You British lend us around three hundred archers, some thirty years prior to Agincourt, back in 1385 in the Battle of Aljubarrota, a great victory against the Castilian an Aragonese invaders supported by the French, those archers were a key element to insure the great portuguese victory, and I supose that some of the lessons the british archers learned in that summer day of August of 1385 served them well in Agincourt. Thanks for sharing
Who knows I might tell that story one day?
As a Primary Teacher, I love telling kids about all the famous battles. I tell Agincourt when we do archery at residential trips. I watch your videos to check my accounts are accurate! Great channel and thanks for the great storytelling 👍
Thank you for your kind words of support. I wonder how I can better service history teachers?
Great video once again sir. October sure was a bad month not only for the French but we also had the Battle of Camperdown in 1797 on the 11th October (my birthday and also from Sunderland the home town of Jack Crawford the hero of Camperdown.) against the Dutch. Stunning victory for king Henry at Agincourt and wonderfully depicted by you in your usual way, thank you so much for sharing this fantastic piece of history.
Thank you for watching and for taking the time to post your kind comment
Sorry I missed the start, but only 45 minutes late. Another great showing Chris. You make history not just interesting, but fascinating. Thank you.
That's very kind feedback. Thank you.
Thanks Chris, this is one of my favourite battles. I have heard many telling's and versions. But I was spellbound with your telling. I could feel that slick mud around my ankles as I was chopping into a French man. 😁😂
Thank you for that very kind comment. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Chris, thanks for an excellent history of this famous battle.
Harfleux may still be quite small today but the busy ferry port of Le Havre lies just west of it.
Indeed, it does. It’s strange how some ports decline, and others grow. For instance, in the Middle Ages, Chester was the main port in Northwest England and Liverpool was just a tiny fishing village!
The english longbows were gamechangers!
They really were. In fact, I’ve read that the Duke of Wellington contemplated using them during the Napoleonic wars because muskets couldn’t shoot as quickly. It’s than transpired that no one in England really knew how to Colombo anymore, so that was the end of that great plan!
Too bad Mad Jack wasn't alive back then.
Hey Chris , whot wonderful story telling , you had me hooked from start to finish . Thank you for your hard work
It’s my pleasure, thanks for watching
Another excellent video thanks Chris. I don't know any English person who cannot be inspired by the telling of Agincourt tales
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for your support.
17:00 FINALLY! In college, I read about archeological evidence of English archers having a larger bone structure of the drawing arm. Since, I forgot the details. I’ve been looking for some confirmation and finally I found it. I like the personal details that you bring out. An Excellent video. 🎉.
Is very kind of you thanks
What a video! Cleared up so much history in my mind. Thank you so much, regards, John.
Glad it was helpful!
Very, very watchable. Thanks Chris.
My pleasure. I'm glad that you enjoyed it.
Brilliant Video!!!! Thank You!!!
Glad you liked it!
Thank you Chris .... Great story telling once again.
Thank you for taking the time to watch
Thank you so very much Chris,excelent as always.👍👍👍👍
You are very welcome
Brilliantly done love it. Thank you
No, thank you for taking the time to watch my video
Brilliant content. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Chris nice to be at the Premiere👍👍👍
Jan, thanks for joining me at the premiere
We few, we happy few, we viewers of the History Chap.
I like it 😀
Thank you for the great factual storytelling.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Another great video
Thanks again!
I'm so glad I found this site! Mr Green is a great story teller!
Very kind of you.
Please subscribe to my channel
Fabulous. Many thanks 😊
You’re welcome 😊
Great work Chris!
Thank you
Thanks for another great history lesson, stay well.
Thank you for your support
your a good chap chris ! cheers@@TheHistoryChap
Shame I missed the premier, but great video as always,
Thank you.
Excellent summation of this historical event!
Thank you for watching
Superb once again
Thank you so much 😀
We love you, Chris!
Thank you very much. Please sign up for my weekly newsletter at www.thehistorychap.com
"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more". THAT is how much I've known diddly squat about ANY of the Battle of Agincourt for ALL these years of my life so far, and now, thanks once again to YOU and your amazing way of presenting British/English military history, Chris dear old chap, I've had THE lesson I could need to FINALLY learn the FULL details of this highly memorable, and obviously for some fields which shaped the future history of our country itself highly important, battle, made all the more extremely famous of course by the great William Shakespeare and his play of Henry V, the words of the play of which, as I've said, being the ONLY references/facts of the battle I've ever known in my life so far. But now... FINALLY, I've learned the facts of the battle itself.
Well done you, our no.1 man to deliver just what we could need in terms of expert videos on British military conflicts and battles, here's to what you'll be delivering next- I wonder what THAT could be
The funny thing about that famous line of, "Once more into the breach, dear friends, once more" was attributed to Henry V not at Agincourt but was his rallying cry at the siege of Harfluer.
Thank you so much for your kind comment and your support. If you want to learn even more British history, then please sign up for my newsletter at www.thehistorychap.com
Wonderful film, thank you. The length and pace of the narration is perfect for a story that can have too much detail.
That’s very kind of you. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Another fine story....❤ thanks
My pleasure, thanks for watching
Excellent video and full of your characteristic enthusiasm and humour
That’s very kind of you. Thanks for watching.
Very interesting piece of history. Super presentation. Thanks a lot.
Glad you enjoyed it
I had heard of the battle but not the details. Thanks for the video! A great reminder that no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy.
I am glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching
Excellent!
Many thanks!
Chris thanks for sharing this video. I always read Henry V on St. Crispin's day. Cheers Ron
That’s very dedicated of you. I’m glad you enjoyed the video to
Great job !
Many thanks
Gentlemen of England etc! Another great one Chris well done yet again.
Thank you very much and thanks for taking the time to comment
Stopped at Agincourt site on the way to Passchendaele, very atmospheric and a great little museum there. Welsh archers played a big part but it could easily have gone the other way if weather conditions & terrain were different,how our history may have changed then eh?
Yes indeed, the out come of battles are certainly hinged to weather and terrain...
Only a small amount of welsh archers most were English
@@smguk2412The archive are still there I have the book Agincourt by Juliet Barker But kudos too the Welsh the 24ft was a Welsh Regiment at Rorkes Drift. Don't you know
History often turns on small events
@@steveforster9764 Wrong again
Enjoy very much this bit of history
Kep up good job
Many thanks
what a great video really love watching these videos and the stories about our history keep up the great work. And you soon get to the million mark
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Please sign up for my free weekly history newsletter at www.thehistorychap.com
Enjoyed the video, love the medieval history
Would love to tell more stories from this period. Just need to bring all my 19th-century viewers along with me!
As another aspect of the Hundred Years War, you may wish to investigate the role of the Scots on the French side.
They fought in 3 battles against the English and their Burgundian allies, Bauge which they won killing Henry V's brother in the process, Cravant where they were utterly defeated and then Verneuil, which was described as a 2nd Agincourt and harder fought, where they were completely destroyed.
Some describing the English as the "British" clearly need to learn more.
Great video as always!
Thanks for the suggestion, and I will take you up on it sometime during 2024
There was a programme that demonstrated the difficulty the knights in armour would have had in getting up because of the suction generated by the type of mud at Agincourt.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Only just had a chance to watch. Brilliant again Chris. Thanks'' As a Lancastrian with Yorkshire heritage I'm looking forward to the take on the War of the Roses (when I get chance !)
Thanks for watching this one, and I hope you enjoy the war of the roses
great video 👍
Thank you for watching
@TheHistoryChap has the battle of neville's cross been on, or have I missed it
Fabulous.
Thank you
Bravo Zulu (Well Done). I always look forward to your videos. I'm still looking for my grandfather's hospital information from the Somme. It would interesting to know if he knew Noel Chavasse. It wouldn't surprise me.
Agincourt is but the first of a distressingly long list of battles where I have had family on both sides. Most of them were in the Wars of the Roses and the American Civil War.
I’m very impressed that you’ve treated your family tree back that far. With the surname like green, I’m on a hiding to nothing!
Oh if Shakespeare would have been Henry's speech writer. Probably would have turned out the same. Great battle tactics displayed, and then showing the French that they wouldn't have any quarter, them sparing the rest is very ingenious.howeber like you said unless you're part of the 200. Another great story sir.
It’s easy to take the high moral ground, but I wonder what each of us would’ve done in the same circumstances?
Didn't the Channel tunnel at one time go to Waterloo station, complaints over the Name 😇😂🇬🇧💪💯
Thank you Chris, it was great to have caught it..
I will be going through it again 🤔 that's a sign of quality ⚖️🎬💪🇬🇧💯
Well that’s very kind of you to watch it again. As for the station and the channel tunnel I’m really not sure
25th October is my birthday, I often enjoy telling people about it being the date of the battle of Agincourt and the charge of the light brigade
Two. Pretty good anniversaries to have on your birthday!
Don’t ever be tempted by BBC et al .. this outshines them .. outstanding piece of work 🎉🏴
Thanks for watching my video, glad you enjoyed it.
Amazing video & great recount! Thanks for doing this. It absolutely blows my mind that much of what we know today sort of goes back to this very battle. If Henry V loses then there is very likely no marriage to Catherine of Valois, this also very likely leads to no Marriage to Owen Tudor post Henry V death. Which of course eventually leads to no Henry VII, No Henry VIII. Which naturally means no Protestant reformation due to the Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn situation. Also No Mary & No Elizabeth. Just wild stuff LOL Thanks again!!!
Rather like you, I love the fact that History turns on small events.
England/Britain has always punched above it's weight in wars.
I tend to agree
Thank you Chris. The killing of French prisoners was not chivalrous.
Not really, and as I said in the video, many people were not happy with his decision
What a battle this was amazed at the
Archers speed 👏
Incredible speed
A good and well informed reading, different to the War Walk given by the late Richard Holmes though no worse for its tentative exploration of the developing dynastic tussle between the House of Capet and the house of Plantagenet.
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts
And 500 years later the archers saved the British army at the battle of Mons.
One of my recent videos
By coincidence was watching the excellent Hollow Crown : Henry V this very evening! No idea it was the anniversary. Rain and mud proved handy again 400 years later for the Brits at Waterloo 😊
I guess rain in mud is something where are used to thanks to the British weather!
Bernard Cornwell wrote a fictional, though historicaly accurate, book about Azincourt. A really good read. Fact and fiction blended together as only Mr. Cornwell can do it.
I have read it and it is good. You’re also right that he is a great writer
Sir. I will be happy if u will focus on ww1/2. Specifically forgotten battles and bravery etc. REGARDS. ❤
Only those wars?
Sorry Im late, I was listening to The Archers.
You’ve just brought a smile to my face, thank you
@@TheHistoryChap
I this greatly troubled world, I'm pleased I brought a smile to your face. Respects.
'AN ORSE, AN ORSE, MY KINGDOM FOR AN ORSE'.
Another great history story of Britain's fascinating history.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
Am interested in The near future for you to do a video on Oliver Cromwell lord Protector 1653 to 1658.
He’s on my list
heard once that another title of the Battle of Agincourt was the battle where Chivalry died.
I hadn’t heard that one sort of makes sense
As a purely side issue I read once that some boffin believed if the allied army at Waterloo were all highly skilled bowmen the battle would have been over in an hour.
Although the arrows wouldn’t have done much damage against the armoured French Calvary their infantry would have been mown down at 200 yards instead of 30 with muskets.
Can’t recall who the boffin was but it was a very interesting article if you are interested which I assume you are otherwise you wouldn’t be watching this excellent vid
Interesting. Thanks for sharing
OK. I watched your production and learned a great deal. I didn't know about the traditional 2 finger salute. There is a documentary about the use of the British Longbow, those Archers were immensely strong and their rate of fire was almost the equivalent of 10 Maxim Machine guns. Further...I heard somewhere that the British arrow had the power to penetrate French armour, although the jury is still out on that one !
So, why did the French keep trying to defeat the British when they always appeared to fail.
In conclusion, all this death and mayhem was just a bit of a family row.
AND, it always Rains stair rods in northern France, you might recall Paseandael (sorry about the spelling).
Good production, 10 out of 10. Keep it up.
They weren't British, they were English
Thank you so much for watching and for taking the time to comment. I guess the simple answer is that you can win a battle it takes a lot of manpower to subdue a country.
@gerrystratford6770
OK you got me...English.
Hi Chris don't forget the Welsh archers as well which invented the long bow
Thank you for contributing
"October isn't a good month for the French in battles."
Battle of Hastings: "Am I a joke to you?
I think you’ll find that they were Normans not French
Apparently Charles de Gaulle refused to travel within 30km of the Agincourt battlefield.
Sounds about right
One of my friends is French. When I asked him about this Battle he shrugs his shoulders and acts as if this never happened
Just like so many French battles - they ran away instead of fighting.🤣
Ha ha, rather like most of us English can’t tell you about any battles where is the French beat us (but there were a few!)
We won some spectacular battles against the french in the hundred years war. Its easy to forget that france was the eventual winner.
Excellent story and well told. But, please, archers loose, release, or perhaps let-fly, but they don't "fire"!!
Thank you for watching my video and for your feedback
Pride is a hell of a thing, it breeds arrogance, especially when you outnumber your foe. The French had a lot of nobility, and Prince's of the realm present at Agincourt, all commanding men, all wanting to prove a point. I imagine that there was an air of thought that the mostly peasant Army of England arrayed against them was beneath them, the English made them pay for it. A story written many times in history since before and after the Romans first learned at Cannae.
Agincourt is quite possible to be the greatest English victory over the French, certainly at the time and perhaps still so to this day, for what it entailed. The outcome at Agincourt, and fallout thereafter, essentially won King Henry V of England the French crown. Had Henry V not died young, 2 months before the French King Charles VI, an English King, with his French Queen and their children, would have ruled, for the first time in history, a United Kingdom of England and France under a single unified monarchy.
Thanks for watching my video.
You don't see a lot of colorful tights on today's battlefield.
I knew something was missing🤣
Nice vid as usual, but Joan was a lot later. The English under there regent, had more victorious battles after this one. This period is just as interesting as 1415, but less known about. Perhaps there is more for you there.
I’m afraid she wasn’t. She led the French fight back in the 1420s, as I said in the video. She was executed in 1431.
Battle of Verneuil 1424 Joan started 1429?
15.30 . Archers don't fire. They shoot, onomatopoeia is the bowman's friend.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge
The interesting thing is, the French Constable had been in this kind of battle before, almost 20 years previous at Nicopolis in 1396 against the Ottomans. And they were defeated there, as well.
I’m not sure that the constable of France had much control in the battle
@@TheHistoryChap true, just saying, he should have recognized the scenario. But, as I've said before, historically, French martial pride has been their downfall on many an occasion.
I think ‘The King’ (2019) was pretty good, but how accurate was it? What did they get wrong?
It was a good fun film, although I watched it a few years ago now. From my memory, the whole Battle of Shrewsbury and death of Harry Hotspur near the start of the film was way off the mark.
Plate armour was much like body armour today it needed a certain distance to work at point blank range it can't work because nothing can
I met a man at the Tewkesbury mediaeval festival, who showed me all the different points that were developed for arrows. It was a very sophisticated business.
St Guineforth led me here.
I’m very pleased for you!
25th October, my birthday.
Happy Birthday, hope you had a good one.
Happy birthday to you 😀
An excellent video thank you for sharing with us.
However I must challenge one of your assertions
“Henry made a highly controversial decision, even by the standards of the day”
This is not correct, there were no contemporary sources that criticised Henry V for killing the prisoners, even French ones.
It was absolutely seen as an understandable decision and most sources from the time criticised the French army for continuing the attack after the English has taken so many prisoners.
The record, I read, suggest that his own men were disturbed by his decision, not least, because it deprive them of hostages
How complicated the political and scheming was. At least in today's climate its more complicated to go to war on a whim. Well told Chris. 👍
Thank you for watching and for taking the time to comment. Glad you enjoyed it.
And after it all...if only King Henry hadn't died too soon. So close.
It would have changed History, but who knows if it would have changed history for the better?
Every nation has myth making battles. This is one for the English.
Would love to see Flodden covered.
Flodden is on my list. Please subscribe or join my newsletter at my website.
It didn't look anything like that pristine, orderly uniform thumbnail presents it that's for sure.
I very much doubt artists want to paint a muddy field
@TheHistoryChap Vert true. Lol.
I blame that Olivier film, it has coloured many peoples impression of the battle
But a dirty, desperate, dishevelled dysentery stricken bunch of tired starved half naked desperados, although not picturesque, would be more representative
The games afoot: Follow your spirit, and upon this charge, Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!'
Thanks for watching
@@TheHistoryChap If we don't meet again until we meet in Heaven, then I joyfully say adieu. (right battle this time) :D
I’ve read that Henry’s campaign was not well financed, as a result he compromised and recruited soldiers of questionable character who, with their improvised weapons, fought dirty. That also took the French noblemen by surprise.
I haven’t read that, but you could very well be correct. After all, it wouldn’t be the first or indeed the last project to be run on a shoestring!
1:34 ish - The dead kind of France’s sister. Did I mishear or misunderstand that? It’s been a long day!
You misheard it was the dead king of Francis sister
I think young Louis would make a grand King of France after the monarchy is properly re-established.
You made me chuckle this morning
On to Calais and to ENGLAND then, where ne'er returned from france more happy men
You’ve made me chuckle on a cold night in Worcester
Did the 1st death by a hand giun not occur here.
I don’t know, maybe someone else can contribute?
@@TheHistoryChap Thanks I believe I read or heard this on James Burke TV show Connections in the 1970s. He actually named the poor English man killed during the closing stages. As I brought the subject up I will investigate and let you know.
I have seen/heard three famous British actors deliver Shakespeare's famous speech before the battle and Kenneth Branagh is BY FAR the best. I never liked the overrated Laurence Olivier but I admired Richard Burton; however, both delivered their lines in an awful, clipped and very fast manner, as if the French were about to attack within a minute. What do you think?
I think Kenneth Branagh played the role brilliantly and also three, he was probably the most dashing
@@TheHistoryChap Yes. The speech in itself is magnificent,. As you know, I am not English, and yet when I watched the film in 1989 I was incredibly moved and excited. I think is the most moving speech ever written, but you need a brilliant actor to do it properly. Branagh starts gently, and then he slowly winds himself up. I can watch that scene 100 times and still get goosebumps. Regards!
happy St Crispens day
You too!!
Urine is sterile, pissing on arrows wouldn't have made any difference. The fact many of the archers had dysentery and were "without hose" (ie. had the runs so badly, they didn't bother putting their trews on) meant there was plenty of other human waste around which WAS detrimental to health.
I went to Agincourt, wanted to see the battlefield and museum. It was shut. 🤣. Went to Crecy too, the same day. Fantastic to imagine slaying loads of frogs, LOL
Thank you for taking the time to comment
The English (& Germans) would defeat the French again due to muddy fields at Waterloo. Britain's Wellington would deliver the final defeat. Thanks of this Podcast.
It’s my pleasure. Thanks for your support.
The news of the victory of Agincourt, was written in English……not French, which was still the official language of State. On his return , Henry changed the official language to English, the only language everyone in England understood. After all, if an English knight whose first language was French, was mistakenly attacked by Archers , whose first language was English, how who he announce they were on the same side ?
Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge
@@TheHistoryChap Henry 1V when crowned, was crowned in English, the first time this had happened since 1066.