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Introduction
The Battle of Agincourt

Though the Agincourt war lasted for a hundred years, it had its roots more than 400 years before. The events that caused the rise of this war were the typical claims of inheritance and power. The French ruled over a small part than the English at one stage. However, this reverted after a series of external and internal conflicts between the two countries. For another time the French regained the land it owned in the North. The regained land included Normandy. For the English, they had to settle with ruminants such as Gascony (they were very profitable and valuable).
Pre-Agincourt War
The continuing hostility between the French and the English continued for centuries as the English claimed their right to the French throne just the way their ancestors did. Since the French king had died without a hair, King Edward the III of England claimed the rights of the throne since, Eleanor (Aunt to the French’s king) was his mother. In 1337 AD, a big war was going to break out since French ships began to raid and cause turmoil in the English settlements.
In 1337 AD, the French kingdom had over 17 million (together with the greatest number of knights Europe ever had), while English kingdom had barely over 4 million. Their first major war occurred at Sluys where the English persuasively overpowered the French navy in a fight aboard the ships. With his first attempt at the war, King Edward the III had all the rights to invade and recaptured the territories. He amassed an army of very high standards that comprised of willing and able mercenaries and war veterans. Kings Edward’s well-trained and diverse troops proved beyond any doubt they were the most effective army in the whole of since the Romans times. Two most important engagements in revolutionary strategy fought in the reminder of the Edwardian War, the Battle of Poitiers and the Battle of Crecy. In all the cases, the French were wiped-out by the outnumbered Englishmen in the course of the successful use of the Longbow.
Episodes of war and peace continued into the next century. However, in the year 1415, King Henry the V had his hopes on capturing the French’s crown since he also believed that he was the rightful heir of the thrown. Having the advantage of the civil wars in the French territories, Henry took with him ten thousand men to the coast of France. Thereafter, he headed straight to the Fortress of Halfleur. At Halfleur, the siege between the French and the English went on until 22 September of 1415. However, while at war, dysentery infected his troops. Henry left a defense of a few hundreds of men to control the Earl of Dorset as he proceeded to Calais.
Agincourt War
On October 8, Henry headed off to Calais as he left behind a 1000 men at arms with a provision of 5000 to 6000 acres of land. However, his army was tired, sick and hungry. Because of this nature, divided this army into three segments; a party front that was led by Sir John Cornwall and Sir Gilbert Umfraville, in conjunction with Earl Huntington and Duke Gloucester he managed the center troop, while the rare was headed by Earl of Oxford and Duke of York.
Meanwhile, two French enemies were in pursuit of the sick and the weary English invaders. As one of the enemies blocked river Somme, Henry headed southward for a ford at the Bellencourt. To counter the resistance, the French army deployed a troops trained to fight on horseback as the English tried to cross the Voyennes. However, this was not a good idea since it was not successful. The English troops eventually managed to cross the Somme River on 9 October three days in arrears of provisions.
The English were becoming more demoralized by the day. Henry went to the extent of giving Harfleur back to the French to gain their passage back to Calais. However, the French rejected this offer and instead demanded the entire province except Guyenne. Henry rejected too rejected their proposal. Eve to the battle, English troops were cooperative and silent. On the other hand, the French were busy gambling and drinking under ball fires since they were confident in their victory.
When morning came, the French took disadvantaged positions in consideration of the rules of Cavalry. French troops were under Charles De Albert, a French constable. He assembled the troops into a conventional formation. While each of the first two lines comprised of 8000 dismounted, the third comprised of nobles and Knights who were the elite of the French cavalry. More than 600 men positioned on each flank they had an intention to destroy the English Longbowmen. The French soldiers had great hate toward the Longbowmen and regarded them as people of the lower class. For instance at one point, the French captured, humiliated and hanged the Longbowmen. Although more than three thousand Crossbowmen with Artillery were present, they proved harmless since they were placed at very rear positions. Together with his army, D’Albert had an advantage of mobility, resources, numbers and circumstances.
On the other hand, Henry’s men had a typical English combined formation. Arranged in a concaved shape, the English troops comprised of dismounted men. Englishmen had between 750 and 1000 men with arms, long swords, axes, daggers, halberds and flails. They were heavily armored and armed. They also had formidable troops to fight with the command of Henry V. Split between each side, they had between 5000 to 6000 Longbowmen. As the right side was under the control of Edward the Duke of York, the left side was under the authority of Lord of Camoys. More than four hours passed but both side made not made any move. D’Albert kept his defensive posture to allow the English to make their first strike. Prior the battles, Longbowmen got instructions to sharpen stake into the ground at the front of the combat. This meant to disrupt their formation and act as physical barriers.
Post-Agincourt War
Both troops charged furiously as each of them tried to outdo the other. Camoy’s troop managed to keep away the cavalry troop by the use of arrow fire. As Charles tried to destroy the English men single handedly, terrain proved to be a big challenge for him. As the war, continued English men had the upper hand. The Longbowmen too joined in the bloodbath. Already halfway destroyed by the rider less-horses the Frenchmen withdrew from the war because of defeat. As others managed to escape those, who remained became prisoners of war.
Conclusion
Thereafter, Henry met a French messenger to decide on the name to give to the battle. Because it took place near the Agincourt castle, they agreed to give the name “The Battle of Agincourt”. This proved to be a tactical stand taken by the English men since; with a small troop force, they were able to outdo a rowdy and big force of glory-hungry noble men. Agincourt also became a mark of the changing time as the French reconsidered their mindset and manner of doing things in times of war. As a result, they started considering the lower classes into the military.