Who was king of England at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415?

King Henry V.

The king of England during the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 was Henry V. Born in 1386, he ascended to the English throne in 1413 following the death of his father, Henry IV. Henry V was a central figure during a pivotal era in English history, known particularly for his military campaigns in France during the Hundred Years’ War.

Henry V’s reign is perhaps most celebrated for the Battle of Agincourt, which took place on October 25, 1415. This battle was part of Henry’s campaign to reclaim lands in France that he believed were rightfully his through ancestral rights. The victory at Agincourt remains one of the most famous in English military history, not only because of the significant numerical disadvantage faced by the English army but also because of the strategic brilliance demonstrated by Henry himself.

Before the battle, Henry’s forces were weary from marching and significantly outnumbered by the French. Estimates suggest that the English had about 6,000 men, mostly archers, while the French forces numbered between 12,000 to 36,000. Despite these odds, the English won a decisive victory, a triumph often attributed to the effective use of the longbow, the muddy battle conditions that favored the lighter-equipped English soldiers, and Henry’s leadership and tactical planning.

Henry V’s success at Agincourt significantly bolstered his standing both at home and abroad, leading to a treaty in 1420 known as the Treaty of Troyes, which recognized Henry as the heir to the French throne through his marriage to Catherine of Valois, daughter of King Charles VI of France. This victory, however, was not just a military one; it had long-lasting effects on English national identity and the perception of the monarchy.

Henry V’s leadership style, characterized by his valor, religious piety, and connection with his troops, was instrumental in his successes. His reign, though relatively short – he died in 1422 at the age of 35 – left a lasting legacy in both England and France, immortalized in Shakespeare’s play “Henry V,” which dramatizes his life and the events around the Battle of Agincourt, celebrating his prowess and the victory that has come to symbolize English national pride.