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Henry V (1387 – 1422)
Henry V’s place in history is defined by his victory in the
Battle of Agincourt, which unified the Kingdoms of England and France,
and his legend was further established by William Shakespeare’s pen.
 Henry was born in Monmouth in Wales
of the house of Lancaster. As prince, Henry battled against the Welsh
rebellion of Owain Glyndwr around 1408 and gained a reputation as a
solider and tactician.
Henry succeeded his father
Henry IV to the throne in 1413 and launched a campaign against the
French, which finally brought an end to the Hundred Years War. The
English were desperately outnumbered, with 36,000 French including
their best Knights facing Henry’s army of 5,900 men. But a combination
of muddy terrain and Henry’s Longbow men brought about an outstanding
victory to the English and the obliteration of the cream of France.
Henry’s
reputation was greatly raised during Elizabethan times by Shakespeare’s
treatment in his play regarding the Battle of Agincourt and the events
leading up to it. Henry is depicted as the quintessential English Hero
with classic film re-workings of Henry V starring Laurence Olivier in
1944 and Kenneth Branagh in 1989, in the lead role.
In
Shakespeare’s play and Olivier’s film, Henry V is viewed as a patriotic
rallying cry and was utilised at times when Britain was under threat
from a stronger foe from overseas – the Spanish in Elizabethan times
and the Germans during World War II.
While many
revisionists have criticised the historic view of Henry V and Agincourt
and propaganda, Henry V’s image as an icon and legend is still strongly
held in Britain.
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