In 1415 King Henry V of England led his men to Victory at the Battle of Agincourt during the 100 Years War
Henry V was a great military leader and even as a teenager he fought in the battle of Shrewsbury on the 21st of July 1403 alongside his father Henry IV. He also fought against the rebellion uprising in Wales that started on the 16th of September 1400 which was led by Owen Glendower, the last native Welshman to rule the throne. The success of the campaign against Glendower stabilised the English rule of Wales.
Henry ascended to the English throne on the 21st of March 1413 (aged 27) in the middle of the “Hundred Years War” (1337-1453) against France. Within two years king Henry V led his men to success in battle of Agincourt against a much larger French army. Originally Henry landed in France with a force some 30,000 strong but after battle, disease and the need to leave men to guard the port for a safe return Henry’s forces were reduced considerably. With only Victory in mind Henry continued with his quest and only 5,000 men. Despite his supplies being low and his men having marched for two and a half weeks Henry fought in hand to hand combat leading his army to victory against a French force between 30,000 and 10,000 strong on the 25th of October 1415. Between 1417 and 1419 King Henry V continued his military campaign with the “Conquest of Normandy” and the siege of Rouen (31st of July 1418 – 19th January 1419). When Rouen surrendered the French monarch, King Charles VI, signed the Treaty of Troyes which gave Henry the hand of his daughter, Catherine of Valois, in marriage and promised the throne to Henry V and his descendants upon his death. On the 2nd of June 1420 Henry married Catherine of Valois and on the 6th of December 1421 she gave birth to their son Henry.
In 1154 King Stephen of England died and Henry I’s grandson became Henry II of England.
When Henry I died on the 1st of December 1135 his nephew, Stephen of Bois, sailed across the channel to take the throne of England with the help of his brother Henry of Winchester. Initially Stephen defended the English throne from attacks by Geoffrey of Anjou, husband of rightful heir and daughter of Henry I Empress Matilda, as well as David I of Scotland. War (known as The Anarchy due to the breakdown of law and order) raged in both England and Normandy between King Stephen on one side and Matilda and her husband on the other. The Anarchy was a bloody civil war in England lasted the entire reign of King Stephen and ended upon his death.
In 1139 Matilda was aided by her half brother, Robert of Gloucester, took control of the South West while King Stephen remained in control of South East England. After the Battle of Lincoln on the 2nd of February1141 King Stephen was captured and imprisoned by the forces of Matilda in 1141 but this led lawlessness throughout the country and rebellious crowds prevented Matilda from entering London and claiming her throne. Stephen was released and a stalemate began in the country with each side producing their own coins. By 1147 the Second Crusades was announced and many left to fight. Geoffrey of Anjou’s and Empress Matilda’s young son mounted a small force and attempted to attack Stephen but due to a lack of funds he was forced to retreat. King Stephen showed great kindness to his young relation Henry by paying off the men Henry had gathered to attack him and paying for Henry’s safe return to England. This did not deter Henry and again he amassed a force to fight Stephen for the throne and lost. But Henry continued to build forces to attack Stephen. In an attempt to end civil war in England King Stephen recognised young Henry as his successor to the throne (much to the anger of his own children) and upon his death on the 25th of October 1154 Henry became King Henry II of England.
