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Battle of Agincourt This battle lays claim to have been the most important of the entire Hundred Years War. Fought at Agincourt (Pas-de-Calais) on 25 October 1415, it matched an English army, led by king Henry V, with that fighting in the name of France. The English myth, expressed dramatically by William Shakespeare, attributed the English victory to divine approbation of the king’s cause, to his inspired leadership and to the skill and courage of the English soldier. In spite of what many contemporaries wrote, there was probably no great numerical difference between the size of the two armies. Rather, the decisive factors were the deadly fire of the English archers present; the condition of the field, very wet and muddy after over-night rain, which militated against the large force of French cavalry; the uncertain French leadership; and the late arrival of men hoping to join the French army. King Henry sized up the situation and, by starting to attack and forcing the enemy to move when they were not yet fully ready, took advantage of the situation as it was developing. The outcome was to raise England’s morale and military reputation. The king now felt freer to invade France a second time, which he did in 1417, with lasting results.
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