Henry V

Miniature portrait by Thomas Hoccleve (c. 1412)

Regnal name: King Henry V of England

Birth name: Henry Monemouth Plantagenet of Loncastre

Born: 16 September 1386, Monmouth, Sir Fynwy, Marches of Wales 

Father: King Henry IV of England

Mother: Lady Mary de Bohun

House: Lancaster

Nationality: English

Religion: Catholicism

Claim: Child of Henry IV 

Reign: 21 March 1413 - 31 August 1422 (9 years)

Coronation: 09 April 1413

Predecessor: Henry IV

Successor: Henry VI 

Died: 31 August 1422 (aged 35), Vincennes, Royal Domain, Kingdom of France

Cause: Dysentery

Burial: Westminster Abbey

Motto: One and no more 

Spouse(s):

• Princess Catherine of Valois (m. 1420 - 1422) 

Children:

• With Princess Catherine of Valois
• King Henry VI of England (1422 - 1471)  

Appearance:

He was described as being very tall, especially for the time period, standing at 190cm (6'3'') in height, and was also described as slim. 

 

He often wore his dark hair in a cropped style above his ears, and tended to keep himself clean shaven. 

Henry also possessed a flushed complexion, and a prominent pointed nose.

 

According to contemporaries, his brown eyes would often flash according to his emotions.

 

Character:

He possessed a highly intelligent, military mindset, and had a great deal of skill in battle strategy. Henry was also tenacious, refusing to give up during his campaigns in France, always working even when he was seriously ill. As well as being skilled at commanding his troops, he was also capable of taking morale into account and becoming a motivating force. 

 

However, he did also possess a harsh and ruthless side, immediately executing anyone who stood against him, as well as brutally butchering French troops while on the battlefield, refusing to take hostages and killing them straight away instead. Henry was also very ambitious, seeking to become the recognised King of France. On the other hand, he was also known for his humble attitude and humility towards his victories, refusing to dress lavishly for parades and celebrations, and attributed his successes to God. 

 

Despite him being more well known for his skills on the battlefield, Henry was also deeply religious, and even planned to embark on a crusade. He also had a love of music and would donate generously to musicians and composers.

 

Biography:

Henry was born in Wales in 1386 to Henry Bolingbroke (the future King Henry IV), the son of the Duke of Lancaster, and his wife, Lady Mary de Bohun. He was the first cousin-once-removed of the current king, Richard II. 

 

In 1398, his father was exiled, and so Henry was fostered by King Richard II, and received a kind upbringing from his new guardian. However, just a year later, Richard II was overthrown by Henry's father, who declared himself King Henry IV of England. He then went back into the care of his father and became the heir to the English throne. 
 
Henry went on to be educated at the University of Oxford before entering into the military and becoming a commander of English troops. In 1403, Henry was nearly killed by an arrow-shot to the face, in which an operation needed to be performed to remove the arrowhead. 

 

In 1408, his father's health began to decline, so Henry took a more active role in government, and the two of them began to clash regarding their political views, though these never amounted to any serious fights. Upon his father's death in 1413, Henry then became King Henry V of England, and during his coronation, there was a brutal snowstorm which many people in England interpreted to be a bad omen. 
 
Throughout the rest of his life, Henry would spend most of his time dedicated to the war with France, declaring himself to be the King of France as well as England. This lead to his most famous victory at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. By 1420, Henry was officially recognised as the heir to the French throne by King Charles VI of France, and Henry married Charles' daughter, Princess Catherine of Valois. The two of them would go on to have only one child together, named Henry, though he would never be able to meet his child. 

 

Meanwhile, his campaigns in France continued, and they even managed to make it all the way to Paris. After his capture of Melun, Henry finally returned to England, but quickly returned after his brother was killed and defeated in France. After the siege and capture of Meaux in 1422, Henry suddenly fell seriously ill, likely as a result of dysentery, but he kept continuing to fight, even despite the scorching hot weather. This also likely gave him heatstroke and exacerbated his illness. 

 

Henry would then die a few weeks later.

 

Rule:

Henry V's reign is largely regarded as very successful from the English perspective. He is remembered, and viewed at the time, as a formidable warrior king, and led many successful campaigns, especially in France. His victories would frequently boost morale within England, and created a sense of national pride and patriotism. 

 

Henry was also the first English king to use English as the official language in government since before the Norman conquest. His reign was largely unopposed, apart from one successfully dealt with coup in 1415. 

 

At the beginning of his reign, he wanted it to be a new start for everyone, and to create a united England where past grudges between warring houses could be forgotten. Any disloyalty towards him after this fact was dealt with ruthlessly. 

 

He was also successful in more diplomatic foreign affairs, able to persuade the King of Hungary to recognise his claims to the French throne, and Henry was enrolled into the Order of the Dragon. Henry did have future plans to embark on a crusade, but he died before this could come to fruition. 

 

The main victory of Henry's reign was his capture of France, and being recognised at the heir and regent to the French throne. This greatly turned the One Hundred Years' War in England's favour, and re-captured lands on the continent that England had previously lost to the Kingdom of France. 

 

Henry would become an influential figure of inspiration for future monarchs of England.

 

Trivia:

• Initially, Henry was greatly underestimated by the French due to his slim figure and more religiously styled haircut, and they would frequently mock him.

 

Quotes:

 

N/A

 

 

Timeline of Reign:

| 1415: Last Welsh War of Independence ends - Owain Glyndŵr led rebellion is defeated. 

| 1415: Southampton Plot - Attempts to depose Henry in favour of Edmund Mortimer were defeated.

| 1415: Siege of Harfleur - England successfully captures the French town of Harfleur. 

| 1415: Battle of Agincourt - England defeats France.

| 1416: Treaty of Canterbury - Alliance between England and Hungary against France.

| 1418: Siege of Rouen - England seizes control of the capital of Normandy.

| 1419: England seizes Vexin - Henry takes control of Vexin.

| 1420: Treaty of Troyes - Henry recognised as the regent ruler of France as well as its heir.

| 1420: Battle of Baugé - Henry's brother loses against the French and Scottish forces.

| 1421: Siege of Meaux - England seizes control of Meaux.

 

 

Sources & Further Reading:

Cartwright, M. (2020). Henry V of England. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/Henry_V_of_England/ 

Henry V Miniature.jpg - Wikimedia Commons. (2026). Wikimedia.org. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_V_Miniature.jpg

pixeltocode.uk, P. (n.d.). Henry V and Catherine de Valois. Westminster Abbey. https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/royals/henry-v-and-catherine-de-valois 

Ross, C. D. (2019). Henry V | Biography, Facts, & Significance. In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-V-king-of-England