Today's "Monarchs of England" Focuses on a favorite of Shakespeare fans everywhere, Henry V. Also known as the "Warrior King," No one fought the 100 years' war like Henry V.
- According to many, was a wild and rebellious youth. However, there seems to be little contemporary evidence for this, with most sources saying he was tall and strong, with a good countenance and temperament. Most likely, Shakespeare later thought it would be more exciting to make him a rebellious boy, and the idea just stuck to his legacy.
- Fought wars in Wales and France for his father, Henry IV. As the second Lancastrian king, Henry V initially faced rebellion against his reign, generally from the Yorkists and their allies. Henry seems to have been a military commander first and foremost, and soon brought England to heel.
- Was shot in the face with an arrow at 16 while fighting the Welsh. Most men would have died from this, but Henry was tough and had access to decent physicians. The arrow was removed and Henry recovered, but he was left scarred. The war scars seem to have made him more intimidating and popular.
- Unlike his father, who had cultivated alliances with the Catholic Church, Henry V didn't need their support, as his claim was already legitimate. In his youth, he supported the Lollards... but after becoming King, he, like his father, betrayed the Lollards and their movement.
- With the help of his uncles, he effectively stole the reign of England from his father as his father's health declined. By the time Henry IV died, Henry V was already well in charge and running.
- Was, by turns, kind and cruel. He rehonored Richard II, having him interred with honors, and forgave those who had stood against his father, even returning their lands and titles. However, he also had Lollards burned at the stake, and brutally suppressed any dissent he could find.
- He was the first king since before William I to regularly speak and write in English. He promoted the use of English, not French, for all legal documents and all discussions in Parliament.
- Now secure at home, Henry V promoted the war in France, bringing up the old claim that he was the true heir to the French throne, not Charles VI, who was by then completely insane. (He had attacked his own court with a sword, and was by now thoroughly convinced that he was made of glass and that any touch would shatter him.)
- Like Richard I, he headed out to war with his soldiers personally. This inspired his men and led to a renewed effort to take France.
- Rashly charged forward with his army, despite warnings from his council. The French army, much larger, blocked his way at a small place called Agincourt.
- The battle of Agincourt was a resounding defeat for the French. Nearly 40% of the French aristocracy was wiped out in a day, when Henry V refused to take prisoners. Chivalry in war was dead, the age of brutal warfare had begun in earnest.
- Was the first to realize that England had to control the seas. His fleet defeated the Genoese, allies of the French, in the English Channel. This drove a wedge between France and the Holy Roman Empire. It suddenly looked as if Henry V could actually WIN the war.
- Became well known for his lack of mercy. When the besieged city of Rouen attempted to let the women and children out of the gates to beg for clemency, Henry refused to let them pass, instead stating that if the gates opened again, he would sack the city. Rouen didn't open the gates, and the women and children starved to death in the ditches surrounding the city walls. When Rouen finally fell, Henry V showed the same lack of mercy to the men, executing or imprisoning most of them, including nobility and the clergy.
- By now, Henry was at the gates of Paris itself. The French aristocracy assassinated their own war leader and threw themselves to Henry's good graces. Henry V allowed France to surrender, on 2 conditions: One, he was to be recognized as the true heir to France, to take over once Charles VI died. Secondly, he was to marry the King's daughter, Catherine of Valois. They had one son, who they named Henry.
- Henry returned to England, leaving his cousin in charge of mopping up the French resistance. However, his cousin failed miserably.
- Henry was forced to return to France to reassert his superiority. By now Charles the VI was dying, and Henry planned to enter Paris for his eventual coronation as the King of England and France.
- Suddenly, though, Henry V caught dysentery and literally shit himself to death. He was only 35 years old. Ironically, Charles VI of France outlived him by only 2 months. The rule of England passed to Henry's infant son, who became Henry VI at nine months old.
- According to many, was a wild and rebellious youth. However, there seems to be little contemporary evidence for this, with most sources saying he was tall and strong, with a good countenance and temperament. Most likely, Shakespeare later thought it would be more exciting to make him a rebellious boy, and the idea just stuck to his legacy.
- Fought wars in Wales and France for his father, Henry IV. As the second Lancastrian king, Henry V initially faced rebellion against his reign, generally from the Yorkists and their allies. Henry seems to have been a military commander first and foremost, and soon brought England to heel.
- Was shot in the face with an arrow at 16 while fighting the Welsh. Most men would have died from this, but Henry was tough and had access to decent physicians. The arrow was removed and Henry recovered, but he was left scarred. The war scars seem to have made him more intimidating and popular.
- Unlike his father, who had cultivated alliances with the Catholic Church, Henry V didn't need their support, as his claim was already legitimate. In his youth, he supported the Lollards... but after becoming King, he, like his father, betrayed the Lollards and their movement.
- With the help of his uncles, he effectively stole the reign of England from his father as his father's health declined. By the time Henry IV died, Henry V was already well in charge and running.
- Was, by turns, kind and cruel. He rehonored Richard II, having him interred with honors, and forgave those who had stood against his father, even returning their lands and titles. However, he also had Lollards burned at the stake, and brutally suppressed any dissent he could find.
- He was the first king since before William I to regularly speak and write in English. He promoted the use of English, not French, for all legal documents and all discussions in Parliament.
- Now secure at home, Henry V promoted the war in France, bringing up the old claim that he was the true heir to the French throne, not Charles VI, who was by then completely insane. (He had attacked his own court with a sword, and was by now thoroughly convinced that he was made of glass and that any touch would shatter him.)
- Like Richard I, he headed out to war with his soldiers personally. This inspired his men and led to a renewed effort to take France.
- Rashly charged forward with his army, despite warnings from his council. The French army, much larger, blocked his way at a small place called Agincourt.
- The battle of Agincourt was a resounding defeat for the French. Nearly 40% of the French aristocracy was wiped out in a day, when Henry V refused to take prisoners. Chivalry in war was dead, the age of brutal warfare had begun in earnest.
- Was the first to realize that England had to control the seas. His fleet defeated the Genoese, allies of the French, in the English Channel. This drove a wedge between France and the Holy Roman Empire. It suddenly looked as if Henry V could actually WIN the war.
- Became well known for his lack of mercy. When the besieged city of Rouen attempted to let the women and children out of the gates to beg for clemency, Henry refused to let them pass, instead stating that if the gates opened again, he would sack the city. Rouen didn't open the gates, and the women and children starved to death in the ditches surrounding the city walls. When Rouen finally fell, Henry V showed the same lack of mercy to the men, executing or imprisoning most of them, including nobility and the clergy.
- By now, Henry was at the gates of Paris itself. The French aristocracy assassinated their own war leader and threw themselves to Henry's good graces. Henry V allowed France to surrender, on 2 conditions: One, he was to be recognized as the true heir to France, to take over once Charles VI died. Secondly, he was to marry the King's daughter, Catherine of Valois. They had one son, who they named Henry.
- Henry returned to England, leaving his cousin in charge of mopping up the French resistance. However, his cousin failed miserably.
- Henry was forced to return to France to reassert his superiority. By now Charles the VI was dying, and Henry planned to enter Paris for his eventual coronation as the King of England and France.
- Suddenly, though, Henry V caught dysentery and literally shit himself to death. He was only 35 years old. Ironically, Charles VI of France outlived him by only 2 months. The rule of England passed to Henry's infant son, who became Henry VI at nine months old.