Agincourt A New History

As night fell in Picardy on Thursday 24 October 1415, Henry V and his English troops, worn down by their long march after the taking of Harfleur and diminished by the dysentery they had suffered there, can little have dreamt that the battle of the next day would provide them with one of the most complete victories ever won. Anne Curry's startling history recreates the campaign and battle from the perspectives of the English and the French. Only now, through an in-depth investigation of the contemporary narrative sources as well as the administrative records, and through a new look at the terrain where the battle was fought, can we come to firmer conclusions on what exactly happened, and why. This book, based on years of painstaking research and reflection, makes clear the genius of Henry V as a military leader, and the strengths and capabilities of the English army which he commanded. There can be no doubt of the desire of the French to resist him and to protect their homeland from his invasion. The French fought bravely and to the death. So what went wrong for the French? This question, and many more, are answered in this lively new history.

Published in partnership with the Royal Armouries, this comprehensive, sumptuously illustrated volume provides a defining reassessment of Englandandrsquo;s legendary victory on the fields of Agincourt on October 25, 1415. Dramatized by William Shakespeare in Henry V, the Battle of Agincourt changed the course of the Hundred Years War and Britainandrsquo;s relationship with her longtime enemy, France. In a remarkable work commemorating the 600th anniversary of arguably the most iconic military engagement of the medieval era, a wide range of experts examine the battle in its political, cultural, and geographical contexts, detailing strategies, tactics, armor, weapons, and fighting techniques while exploring the battlefield experiences of commanders and ordinary soldiers alike. In addition, this all-encompassing study offers deep analyses of many artifacts and aspects of the battle and its aftermath that have rarely been covered in other histories, including medicine and hygiene, the roles of faith and chivalry, the music of the times, and the experiences of women.

Anne Curry is the editor of the Journal of Medieval History and the world's leading authority on the battle of Agincourt. She is the advisor to the battle of Agincourt battlefield centre in Normandy and was historical consultant for the documentary of the battle in the Battlefield Detectives series. Her other books include Agincourt 1415 (as editor), The Battle of Agincourt: Sources & Interpretations (as editor), and The Hundred Years' War.