Henry V of England: Difference between revisions

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'''Henry V''' (<!-- Please don't change the birthdate to August and/or 1387. 16 September 1386 is agreed upon by modern sources. Any additions are welcome in the talk page. -->16 September 1386 – 31 August 1422), also called '''Henry of Monmouth''', was [[King of England]] from 1413 until his death in 1422. Despite his relatively short reign, Henry's outstanding military successes in the [[Hundred Years' War]] against [[Kingdom of France|France]] made [[Kingdom of England|England]] one of the strongest military powers in [[Europe]]. Immortalised in [[Shakespeare]]'s "[[Henriad]]" plays, Henry is known and celebrated as one of the greatest warrior-kings of [[medieval England]].
 
DuringHenry of Monmouth, the reigneldest son of his father, [[Henry IV of England|Henry IV]], became [[heir apparent]] and [[Prince of Wales]] after his father seized the throne in 1399. During the reign of his father, the young Prince Henry gained military experience fighting the Welsh during the [[Welsh Revolt|revolt]] of [[Owain Glyndŵr]], and against the powerful [[Percy family]] of [[Northumberland]],. playingHe played a central part at the [[Battle of Shrewsbury]], despite being just sixteen years of age. As he entered adulthood, Henry played an increasingly central role in [[Government in late medieval England|England's government]], due to the declining health of his father, but disagreements between kingHenry and heirhis father led to political conflict between the two. After his father's death in March 1413, Henry ascended to the [[throne of England]] and assumed complete control of the country, also reviving the historic [[English claim to the French throne]].
 
In 1415, Henry followed in the wake of his great-grandfather, [[Edward III]], by renewing the Hundred Years' War with [[Kingdom of France|France]], beginning the [[Lancastrian Phase|Lancastrian phase of the conflict (1415–1453)]]. His first military campaign included capturing the port of [[Siege of Harfleur|Harfleur]] and a famous victory at the [[Battle of Agincourt]], which inspired a [[Nationalism|proto-nationalistic]] fervour in England. During his second campaign (1417–20), his armies captured [[Paris]] and conquered most of northern France, including the formerly English-held [[Duchy of Normandy]]. Taking advantage of [[Armagnac–Burgundian Civil War|political divisions within France]], Henry put unparalleled pressure on [[Charles VI of France|King Charles VI of France]] ("the Mad")]], resulting in the largest holding of French territory by an English king since the [[Angevin Empire]]. The [[Treaty of Troyes (1420)]] recognised Henry V as [[regent]] of France and [[heir apparent]] to the French throne, disinheriting Charles's own son, the [[Dauphin of France|Dauphin]] [[Charles VII of France|Charles]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cartwright |first=Mark |title=Hundred Years' War |url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Hundred_Years'_War/ |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=World History Encyclopedia}}</ref> Henry was subsequently married to Charles VI's daughter, [[Catherine of Valois]]. The treaty ratified the unprecedented formation of a [[dual monarchy of England and France|union between the kingdoms of England and France]], [[Personal union|in the person]] of Henry, upon the death of the ailing Charles. However, Henry died in August 1422, less than two months before his father-in-law, and was succeeded by his only son and heir, the infant [[Henry VI of England|Henry VI]].
 
Analyses of Henry's reign are varied. According to [[Charles Ross (historian)|Charles Ross]], he was widely praised for his personal [[piety]], bravery, and military genius; Henry was admired even by contemporary French chroniclers. However, his occasionally cruel temperament and lack of focus regarding domestic affairs have made him the subject of criticism. Nonetheless, [[Adrian Hastings]] believes his militaristic pursuits during the Hundred Years' War fostered a strong sense of [[English nationalism]] and set the stage for the rise of England (later [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Britain]]) to prominence as a dominant [[Great power|global power]].
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[[File:Interior of Canterbury Cathedral JC 13.JPG|thumb|A statue of Henry V on the interior of the [[Canterbury Cathedral]]]]
 
Henry V's death at thirty-five years of age was a political and dynastic turning point for both the kingdoms of England and France. The [[House of Lancaster|Lancastrian]] ruler had been set to rule both realms after [[Charles VI of France|Charles VI]]'s death;, thiswhich occurred in October 1422, less than two months after Henry's. Henry'sown premature death. This caused his infant son, also called Henry, to ascend the throne as [[King Henry VI of England]], at the age of nine months. Due to the new king's [[Minor (law)|age]], a [[Regency government, 1422–1437|regency government]] was formed by Henry's surviving brothers, [[John, Duke of Bedford]], and [[Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester]]. This acted as the sole governing force of England and its possessions in France until Henry VI came of age in 1437. Although for a time this largely proved to be a success, with England achieving their greatest territorial extent in France under the command of Bedford,<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Of Lancaster Duke Of Bedford {{!}} Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/british-and-irish-history-biographies/john-lancaster-duke-bedford |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=encyclopedia.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-15 |title=John Plantagenet, duke of Bedford {{!}} Regent of France, English Nobleman, Henry V's Brother {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Plantagenet-duke-of-Bedford |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=britannica.com}}</ref> the later reign of Henry VI saw the majority of the territories held by the English lost or returned to the French, through reconquest or diplomatic secession;<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-11 |title=Date by which Le Mans was to be handed to the French |url=https://thehundredyearswar.co.uk/le-mans-handed-french-1448/ |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=The Hundred Years War – 1337–1453}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Siege of Orléans |url=https://www.100-years-war.com/the-siege-of-orlans |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=100 Years War}}</ref> English military power in the region eventually ceased to exist.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Battle of Castillon, 1453: The end of the Hundred Years War {{!}} History Today |url=https://www.historytoday.com/archive/battle-castillon-1453-end-hundred-years-war |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=historytoday.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cartwright |first=Mark |title=Hundred Years' War |url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Hundred_Years'_War/ |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=World History Encyclopedia}}</ref> This marked the end of England's sustained military success in the [[Hundred Years' War]], with all their [[Angevin Empire|historic possessions]] and land in France being lost, with the exception of the [[Pale of Calais]], which remained England's only foothold in the continent until it was [[Siege of Calais (1558)|lost in 1558]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Fall of Calais {{!}} History Today |url=https://www.historytoday.com/archive/fall-calais |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=historytoday.com}}</ref> The loss of land in France was a major contributing factor in causing Henry V's heirs and relatives to descend into civil strife and quarrel over the succession of the English crown in ensuing decades, culminating in the [[Wars of the Roses]] (1455-1487) between Henry V's descendants, the [[House of Lancaster]], and its rival, the [[House of York]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Origins of The Conflict |url=https://www.warsoftheroses.com/origins-of-the-wars-of-the-roses/ |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=Wars of the Roses}}</ref>
 
=== Reputation ===
Despite this, Henry V is remembered by both his countrymen and his foes as a capable military commander during the war against France and is one of the most renowned monarchs in English and British history. He is largely seen as a symbol of English military might and power, which inspired later [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|kings and queens of England]]. His effect on [[English history]], [[English culture|culture]], and the military is profound. His victory at Agincourt significantly impacted the war against the French and led to the English capturing most of northern France. This led to the Treaty of Troyes in 1420, in which Charles VI of France appointed Henry his successor, although Henry died two months before Charles in October 1422. Henry's victories created a national sensation and caused a patriotic fervour among the [[English people]] that would go on to influence both the medieval [[English army]] and the [[British army]] for centuries to come. His continuous victories against the French during 1417–1422 led to many romanticized depictions of Henry V as a figure of [[British nationalism|nationalism]] and patriotism, both in literature and in the renowned works of [[Shakespeare]] and in the film industry in modern times.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.history.com/topics/european-history/henry-v-england |title=Henry V |website=History.com |date=6 November 2019 |access-date=9 August 2023}}</ref>
 
Henry V is not only remembered for his military prowess but also for his architectural patronage. He commissioned the building of King's College Chapel and [[Eton College Chapel]], and although some of his building works were discontinued after his death, others were continued by his son and successor Henry VI. He also contributed to the founding of the monastery of the [[Syon Abbey]], completed by Henry VI during his lifetime. In the 16th century the monastery was demolished as a result of the growing movement of the [[English Reformation]] during the reign of King [[Henry VIII]]. Henry V further contributed to the church, as he was forced to put down an anti-church uprising in the form of the Lollard uprising led by the English [[Lollard]] leader [[John Oldcastle]] in 1414, who had been a friend of Henry V before his rebellion. Henry also faced a coup orchestrated by a relative and prominent noble, Edmund Mortimer, in the Southampton Plot, and in 1415 dealt with a Yorkist conspiracy to overthrow him. After this, during the remainder of his reign, Henry was able to rule without any opposition against him.