Irene Preston's Historical Writing
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND - PART NINE
Henry V
Henry V was born in 1387 in the gatehouse of Monmouth Castle. He was
known as Henry of Monmouth. He was the son of Henry Bollingbroke, later
Henry IV, and Mary Bohun who died in 1394 when he was 7 years old. As a
young man he enjoyed outdoor pursuits such as fishing, falconry and
hunting, and later became a good swordsman. He also toured the
countryside on foot and horseback. His father, being a well-educated
man, had his son taught well in Latin, French and English. He read
literature, legal and ecclesiastical books and like his parents loved
music and song. In 1398 his father was exiled and young Henry was taken
into the household of King Richard II together with several other young
sons of noble men to ensure their father's continued allegiance. They
were treated well and accompanied the king to Ireland where he made
Henry a knight. When Henry's father invaded England in 1399 Richard said
to young Henry: ‘See what your father has done to me’. Henry replied:
‘In truth my gracious Lord and King I am greatly grieved by these
tidings but I am innocent of my father's deeds.’ Henry and his other
young companions were locked in a castle and Richard returned to England
to face Henry Bollingbroke, Earl of Hereford, and by rights the Duke of
Lancaster. When the duke was crowned Henry IV he created his son Henry,
Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Earl of Chester and later Duke of
Aquitaine.
Prince Henry of Wales accompanied his father on a military campaign to
Scotland in 1400, aged 13. In 1403 he was wounded in the face by an
arrow at the battle of Shewsbury, yet he still fought on at the front
line with his men. It is interesting to note that as Henry V his
likeness only shows the left side of his face. Henry, Prince of Wales,
spent most of his youth in Wales during the uprising of Owen Glendower
where he learnt the art of battle strategy and warfare. This also
included the art of diplomacy and how to administrate his principality.
He eventually defeated Owen Glendower and regained Wales for the
English. Henry was noted for having had a riotous youth with his two
younger brothers, Thomas and Humphrey, all being involved in midnight
brawls in taverns.
As the prince advanced in years this lawless behaviour caused a decline
in his relationship with his father. But the people seemed to love him
whereas they were mistrustful of his father the king. He began to study
the scriptures and cut his hair very short, and looked more like a
priest than a soldier. Henry became a regular member in the Council in
1406 and he encouraged members of his family to take an interest in
government especially his uncles, John Beaufort, Earl of Somerset, Henry
Beaufort, Bishop of Lincoln from 1398 to1404 and later Bishop of
Winchester and Chancellor from 1403 to 1405. Thomas Beaufort would be
chancellor at a later date and Thomas Chaucer, son of Geoffrey, was
elected as speaker during the last 3 parliaments of Henry IV. Another
comrade and mentor was his uncle Thomas Swynford, son of Katherine by
her first marriage, he had been given custody of Richard II during his
imprisonment in Pontefract Castle.
During the king's illness Prince Henry became the leader of the Council
at the beginning of 1410 and was more in favour of a Burgundian alliance
so he sent Thomas, Earl of Arundel, to help Burgundy defend Paris
without the authority of the king. The king's illness made him resent
his son's energy and ability to assume leadership of the Council and
felt humiliated that he failed through illness to lead the expedition
into France. Burgundian envoys were aware that the prince was leading
the negotiations and at this time Bishop Beaufort may have suggested
that the king abdicate in favour of Prince Henry. Henry's brother Thomas
was Lieutenant in Ireland and captain in Guines and had recently married
Margaret the widow of John Beaufort, Earl of Somerset, who had died in
1410. The bishop, being Margaret's brother-in-law, was executor of
John's will and had been opposed to the marriage. Thomas failed to meet
his financial commitments and was always in need of money, he was told
by the bishop and Henry to return to his duty as Lieutenant in Ireland
before he would be paid. When the king returned to the Council Henry and
the bishop were dismissed. It was Henry in particular that the king
wished to dismiss for pursuing his own policy and accepting the alliance
with Burgundy. The king was humiliated that his son had played a leading
role and could manage without his father. He could not be seen to agree
with his son and lose face on the Council even though their desire for
England to claim their French lands were similar but they backed
different horses. The king chose an alliance with the Armagnacs who in
return offered help with the king's claim to Aquitaine, known in France
as Guyenne, according to the treaty of 1360 together with several towns
and castles. The king began to favour Thomas his 2nd son who became a
leader on the Council and his father created him Duke of Clarence and
Lieutenant of Aquitaine, which was a slight on Prince Henry who had been
the Duke of Aquitaine since his father's coronation. Contemporary kings
and dukes considered King Henry's act as bad policy in backing two
different factions in a civil war. The king sent 4000 men with his son
Thomas to assist in the defeat of the Burgundians holding Paris. They
were to be paid by the Armagnacs but on arrival found the opposing sides
had made a treaty and their pay was not forthcoming. Thomas was not
pleased and set about plundering around Bordeaux the capital of
Aquitaine and his father was greatly disappointed in his son's impulsive
behaviour. During Henry's leadership on the Council he had appointed
himself Captain of Calais and later he was accused of misappropriating
£9000 assigned to pay the garrison. Calais had been England's military
and commercial link in Northern France where many English had settled.
Henry had been a victim of a faction to remove him as heir and install
Thomas but the king's 2nd son was weak and no match for Prince Henry.
King Henry cleared the prince's name and they came to a better
understanding but by the end of 1412 the king was terminally ill and in
March 1413 Henry IV died and his son aged 25 was crowned King Henry V.
The new king visited a monk who lived as a recluse in Westminster Abbey
wishing to cleanse and purge himself of his sins. Henry V took his
kingship seriously and created his image of a hero king at the same time
creating a united England speaking one language. He spoke and wrote in
English breaking away from the old Norman French giving the English
people a national identity.
The royal fleet consisted of 6 ships and the king realizing the
importance of sea power and having been influenced by his Beaufort
uncles from an early age created an impressive royal fleet. By 1417 the
fleet consisted of 39 ships, many were bought or captured but several
were commissioned and naval squadrons patrolled the seas especially
during every campaigning season, 1415-1421. In 1416 Thomas Beaufort was
created Duke of Exeter, he was an able and loyal servant of the crown
during Henry's reign. The duke was an admiral with social and practical
power and under him served the Earls of Devon, Huntingdon and March all
good experienced commanders. Leadership was in the hands of men of high
standing and Henry was probably the first king to enlist the service of
sea captains to be available to their king at short notice. Many had to
‘sign on’ for 3 months at sea, only coming into port for fresh water or
in bad weather. In 1417 Henry Beaufort the king's long-time mentor and
chancellor, Bishop of Winchester, was offered a cardinals hat and an
appointment as a papal legate and later his exemption, as bishop, from
the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The king took this as
papal interference in internal English ecclesiastical affairs and a
challenge to his own authority in his English realm. The bishop became a
cardinal but the king forbade him to accept the appointment as papal
legate and the bishop, at the risk of humiliation and ruin by the king,
refused the appointment. He would remain under suspicion by the king
until 1421 when the bishop loaned him £22,000. Another member of the
king's family to receive harsh treatment was his step-mother Joan who
had married Henry IV in 1403. By 1419 the king was so desperate for cash
to continue his war in France that he had Joan arrested on a trumped up
charge of witchcraft using imagery and sorcery to destroy the king.
Henry seized her dowry and kept the revenue for his own use. Joan never
came to trial but was kept a prisoner in Pevensey Castle and later spent
3 years in Leeds Castle. When the king became aware of his imminent
death and in fear for his soul he ordered her release and the
restoration of her possessions in 1422. Joan died in 1437. Henry had the
support of the Duke of Burgundy but the duke was not trusted in France
because of his past deeds and they did not want the English in France.
Henry wondered if he had done the right thing forming an alliance with
Burgundy but he remained diplomatic even though after many meetings
nothing was achieved. The king could not invade France without a reason
but eventually he decided that he could only achieve his purpose through
invasion and war. In 1415 Henry brought together men from many ports
around the Channel to discuss transporting his army across the sea. The
French had been planning their defences during their delaying tactics
and knew Henry was on his way to take what he believed belonged to
England. He was at Winchester when a French envoy tried to make a last
bid to avoid the invasion of their country. Henry demanded the
territories of Normandy, Aquitaine, Anjou, Touraine, Maine, Poitou and
several more including marriage between himself and Catherine Valois,
daughter of King Charles VI of France. Henry believed that all this was
his by right and God was with him and if his demands were not met he
would obtain them by the sword. He delayed the return of the French
envoy so they could not report any details of his preparations.
The king had copies of the treaty his father had made at Bourges, in
which the French recognized the right of England to territory in France,
and sent them to the General Council of the Church and several European
kings and dukes. Henry V set sail in August 1415 with 1,500 ships
arriving in a small bay a few miles from his objective, the royal town
and port of Harfleur. He unfurled his banner to signal a meeting of
council and told his knights that no one, on the pain of death, was to
land before he did. Henry sent a scouting party ashore led by his
20-year-old cousin Sir John Holland whose father had been executed for
treason by Henry IV. John was sent with the help of experienced men and
they became a unit of skill and courage and he would prove an able
commander. In 1414 Henry had attempted to reconcile past grievances
against his father's usurpation of Richard II by restoring lands and
titles to the young sons of those who had died. One such son was young
Henry Percy who received his father's earldom of Northumberland and
young John Holland received his father's earldom of Huntingdon. The king
also restored the duchy of York to Edward, Duke of York, who forfeited
the earldom of Cambridge for his brother Richard. Edward had given long
service to Henry both in Wales and Aquitaine. The king needed all the
brave and loyal men as leaders in his war with France. All these grants
were accepted through parliament in 1416. Henry's army did not just
consist of knights, archers and men-at-arms. There were tent-makers,
armourers, labourers, saddlers, smiths and stablemen to tend the many
horses. There were even three hangmen. After the siege of Harfleur, Henry
decided to march to Calais. He arrived at Agincourt in October1415,
where he came face to face with a vast army of about 7000 French.
Henry's army was much smaller as he had left a garrison of men at
Harfleur and many had returned to England sick with dysentery. Henry's
success was due to his planning, organization and having good competent
leaders and skilled archers, whereas many French leaders had been killed
during the civil war. The Dauphin of France led the French army
displaying their banners with their arms in brilliant colours but their
armour was heavy as they wore knee-length coats of steel and heavy
hooded helmets. This was to prove a disadvantage for the French as they
fought Henry's men who wore little but their rough clothes and carried
their long bows. The king only lost 500 men but the French lost
thousands and he ordered the bodies to be stripped of all valuables,
clothes and armour. The armour was to be placed in a barn and set alight
so the enemy couldn't use it again. Henry then set off for the English
garrison at Calais arriving without any trouble and left several weeks
later for England. The great fleet had been disbanded as the king had no
means to pay for the army's return but were allowed a few shillings and
had to find their own way home. Of the few ships that did sail several
were lost in the bad winter storms or driven onto the coast of Zeeland.
On his arrival at Dover Henry called at Canterbury Cathedral to pay
homage and pray at his father's tomb, the shrine of Thomas Becket and
the tomb of Edward, Prince of Wales. The English had captured almost a
1000 prisoners including Charles, Duke of Orleans, and other members of
the French nobility. Charles was not quite 21 when he arrived in England
and would spend the next 25 years of his life in captivity.
He was sent to Pontefract Castle in Yorkshire where Richard II had died
and Charles had married Richard's wife Isabella. He was treated well
along with the other French nobles who were sent to other royal palaces
and castles. Another interesting prisoner was Arthur, Count of
Richemont, brother of the present Duke of Brittany. Their mother was
Joan who had married Henry IV and therefore King Henry's step-mother.
When Joan had married Henry she had had to leave most of her children in
Brittany and Arthur had been 10 years old at the time. He was now 22 and
did not recognize his mother and she was very disappointed but she sent
him clothes and gave him money and she never saw him again during his 7
years in captivity. He returned to France and eventually married
Margaret of Burgundy and became victorious over the English in 1429 and
1450 helping to regain Normandy for the French.
When Charles of Orleans was released in 1440 he returned to France and
had no liking for war and began to study his books on philosophy,
theology and science with an interest in mechanical clocks and devices.
He married for the 3rd time to a 14-year-old who gave him 3 children,
one of whom would become Louis XII of France. Many other French counts
took up arms against the English upon their return to France after
spending 23 years or so in captivity, even though they were much older
men.
King Henry returned in 1417 to claim Normandy and landed at the mouth of
the River Seine with 10,000 men, including the Lancastrian families of
Stanley, Gerrard, Pilkington and Radcliffe, and John Washington the
ancestor of George who would become the first President of the United
States of America in 1789. The taking of Harfleur first had given Henry
a good port and easy access into France using the many rivers running
through Normandy. He was able to arrive at Rouen with his men and
provisions. His possession of French ports made the Channel safe and
would be patrolled by his ally the Duke of Burgundy. Henry fought his
way across France taking many towns until he had reclaimed Normandy and
signed the Treaty of Troyes which would be ratified in 1420. He had
gained the regency of France and was named as heir to Charles VI and
took his younger daughter Catherine in Marriage. Her older sister
Isabella had married Richard II and then Charles of Orleans. Henry was
probably charmed by his beautiful wife but soon realized she was not of
great intelligence and lacked personality. Henry preferred the
companionship of his comrades and when he relaxed with his inner circle
of friends he played cards, chess and backgammon. He was ruthless and
capable of cruel acts of vengeance, and men feared his anger and knew
better than to question the wisdom of his decisions. Yet he could be
charming and friendly, was a gifted commander and relentless in pursuit
of his aims. The king had always had a good relationship with his
parliament but by 1420 there were underlying grievances due to the king
extorting money to continue his war in France. They believed that
rebellion in France should be financed by the French and not by England.
They also feared that the king was so obsessed with France that he was
putting England second in his priorities. Parliament asked Humphrey,
Duke of Gloucester, the king's younger brother who was regent to urge
the king to return. Henry returned in 1421 with his queen who was with
child and listened to the grievances of his parliament.
They insisted that he declare he had no intention of introducing French
laws and customs into England. This had been a previous worry under
Richard II. Henry spent little time with Catherine, even in England, and
didn't even attend her coronation. He left England for France leaving
his queen to give birth to a son at Windsor in December, 1421. Catherine
later returned to France to stay with her parents. Henry was taken ill
with dysentery whilst aiding his ally the Duke of Burgundy and knowing
he would die within a few weeks began to make preparations for the care
of his realm and his newborn son, the future Henry VI. The king
displayed a characteristic concern for his eternal peace, making right
things he had neglected. He made his brother John, Duke of Bedford,
Regent of France which would remain in Lancastrian hands until 1450. His
younger brother Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, was made Regent of England
and given the care of his son with Catherine his mother until his son
was of a suitable age. Thomas, Duke of Clarence, had died in battle in
1421 and was buried in Canterbury Cathedral. The king decreed that his
uncles, Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter, and Henry Beaufort, Cardinal
and Bishop of Winchester, together with Richard Beauchamp, Earl of
Warwick, were to educate his son. Even though the king lay dying he
never sent for his queen and died in August 1422, aged 35, in Vincennes.
Catherine did accompany his body to England where he was buried in
Westminster Abbey. Henry's monument was to be placed at the east end of
St. Edward the Confessor's chapel and would require structural
alterations. His tomb was of Purbeck marble with a large chantry
reflecting the king's devotion to the trinity with elaborate heraldic
emblems and royal saints. His wooden effigy was covered in silver gilt
and topped with a head of solid silver. Henry V had taken a close and
active interest in the organization of the English Church and the
spiritual life. He viewed the Lollards as heretics and a threat to the
Church and put them down in the early part of his reign. Henry had 2
religious houses built on the River Thames, one for the Carthusian Order
to which he gave the name of Bethlehem, and to the other Zion for the
nuns of St. Brigit. Henry endowed them both. Zion later became known as
Syon after the Reformation. The king's royal fleet was either sold or
left to rot as Phillip of Burgundy was in charge of the Channel and low
countries, making shipping safe at least for the time being. A true navy
would not be founded until the reign of Henry VIII. Henry V had longed
to unite Christendom and was an ideal monarch likened to King Alfred.
Henry's death was followed several months later by the death of his
father-in-law, Charles VI of France. Henry's infant son would soon be
crowned King Henry VI of England and Henry II of France.
Books:
Henry V by Christopher Allmand
Agincourt by Juliet Barker
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND - William I to Henry II click
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND - Richard I and King John click
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND - Henry III click
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND - Edward I click
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND - Edward II click
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND - Edward III
click
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND - Richard II
click
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND - Henry IV click
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND - Henry V click
THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND -
Henry VI
click