Once More Unto the Breach: The War After Harfleur
Kevin Seger
The battle of Agincourt serves as the climactic moment in Henry V. It is also a highly important, and often studied historical battle. Here is what historical scholarship reveals about the context of this battle:
Corrigan and Neillands both agree that Henry’s goal after Harfleur was to march on the city of Calais, and they also both agree that he did so against the advisement of his Council. But Henry was adamant about regaining the lands he felt were rightfully his. Corrigan tells us that as news of Henry’s conquest spread throughout France, the Council in Paris agreed that something needed to be done. Their plan of action was for the French commanders to gather their troops at Rouen. They would then march to intercept Henry’s army as soon as possible (233). The French then used various small blockades at rivers and bridges to slow Henry’s progress while simultaneously leading him to Blangy where they planned to decimate his forces.
When Henry and his army arrived at Blangy on October 23, they were greeted by an overwhelmingly large French force. The French were divided into three substantial ranks. In truth, there is no way of knowing the real number of soldiers on either side of the battle but it is safe to say that the English were greatly outnumbered. When Henry noticed the French army forming what seemed like battle positions, he ordered his troops to prepare for battle. The armies stood staring at each other for an hour before the French withdrew (Corrigan, 239-240). The English pursued the French for two miles before stopping at Maisonelle, but patrols reported that the French had taken up a chokepoint on the Callais road near Agincourt. Henry and his army spent the night there, aware of the fact that there would be a huge battle the next day. It rained on the English all night.
At around mid morning on October 25, 1415, Henry ordered his men to form into three groups across the freshly plowed field. These groups were flanked on the outside by archers. Henry also ordered that his archers place large stakes on either side of the battlefield to funnel the French army toward the English foot soldiers and away from the marksmen.
Henry moved his men into position, placing his archers within the now surrounding forests of Agincourt and Tramecourt. After his men were battle ready, Henry gave the order for his archers to loose their arrows. Neillands tells us that the result was absolute chaos. The first volley alone contained six-thousand arrows (218). Corrigan expands on this by stating that in the first thirty seconds, it is approximated that twenty five thousand arrows fell upon the French army (246). The only apparent solution that the French could see was to engage in a full frontal assault. However, arrows rained down upon the cavalry that was flanking this assault, causing the forces to curl backwards around the crossbowmen, resulting in more chaos.
In addition, the conditions of the battlefield were beginning to deteriorate rapidly, greatly slowing the French assault. The cavalry, presumably the fastest unit, would have taken a full minute and a half to cross the battlefield (Corrigan, 247). In this amount of time, it would have been possible for the English to launch a whopping seventy-five thousand arrows at the French army.
Finally, over the last fifty yards of the French assault, the archers would have been close enough to pierce plate armor with their arrows, causing more death and disarray. When the French lines eventually broke, Henry’s archers charged from behind their stakes and attacked the French flank. Faced by English men at arms at their front and the converted archers at the flank and rear, the French effort collapsed and the tide of the battle turned quickly.
However, at this stage the victor was unclear and the only way for Henry to secure victory was to slaughter his French captives. After this, the final French assaults were defeated and the battle was won. Henry then took his men home.
Although Agincourt did not mark the end of the war, it did signal the beginning of the French defeat. Over the next six years, Henry V would lead several successful military campaigns into France before England was declared victor of the war, but none were so famous as the Battle of Agincourt.
Corrigan and Neillands both agree that Henry’s goal after Harfleur was to march on the city of Calais, and they also both agree that he did so against the advisement of his Council. But Henry was adamant about regaining the lands he felt were rightfully his. Corrigan tells us that as news of Henry’s conquest spread throughout France, the Council in Paris agreed that something needed to be done. Their plan of action was for the French commanders to gather their troops at Rouen. They would then march to intercept Henry’s army as soon as possible (233). The French then used various small blockades at rivers and bridges to slow Henry’s progress while simultaneously leading him to Blangy where they planned to decimate his forces.
When Henry and his army arrived at Blangy on October 23, they were greeted by an overwhelmingly large French force. The French were divided into three substantial ranks. In truth, there is no way of knowing the real number of soldiers on either side of the battle but it is safe to say that the English were greatly outnumbered. When Henry noticed the French army forming what seemed like battle positions, he ordered his troops to prepare for battle. The armies stood staring at each other for an hour before the French withdrew (Corrigan, 239-240). The English pursued the French for two miles before stopping at Maisonelle, but patrols reported that the French had taken up a chokepoint on the Callais road near Agincourt. Henry and his army spent the night there, aware of the fact that there would be a huge battle the next day. It rained on the English all night.
At around mid morning on October 25, 1415, Henry ordered his men to form into three groups across the freshly plowed field. These groups were flanked on the outside by archers. Henry also ordered that his archers place large stakes on either side of the battlefield to funnel the French army toward the English foot soldiers and away from the marksmen.
Henry moved his men into position, placing his archers within the now surrounding forests of Agincourt and Tramecourt. After his men were battle ready, Henry gave the order for his archers to loose their arrows. Neillands tells us that the result was absolute chaos. The first volley alone contained six-thousand arrows (218). Corrigan expands on this by stating that in the first thirty seconds, it is approximated that twenty five thousand arrows fell upon the French army (246). The only apparent solution that the French could see was to engage in a full frontal assault. However, arrows rained down upon the cavalry that was flanking this assault, causing the forces to curl backwards around the crossbowmen, resulting in more chaos.
In addition, the conditions of the battlefield were beginning to deteriorate rapidly, greatly slowing the French assault. The cavalry, presumably the fastest unit, would have taken a full minute and a half to cross the battlefield (Corrigan, 247). In this amount of time, it would have been possible for the English to launch a whopping seventy-five thousand arrows at the French army.
Finally, over the last fifty yards of the French assault, the archers would have been close enough to pierce plate armor with their arrows, causing more death and disarray. When the French lines eventually broke, Henry’s archers charged from behind their stakes and attacked the French flank. Faced by English men at arms at their front and the converted archers at the flank and rear, the French effort collapsed and the tide of the battle turned quickly.
However, at this stage the victor was unclear and the only way for Henry to secure victory was to slaughter his French captives. After this, the final French assaults were defeated and the battle was won. Henry then took his men home.
Although Agincourt did not mark the end of the war, it did signal the beginning of the French defeat. Over the next six years, Henry V would lead several successful military campaigns into France before England was declared victor of the war, but none were so famous as the Battle of Agincourt.