Henry V Wins the Battle of Agincourt
Outnumbered more than three to one, English longbowmen destroy a French army in the mud
Quick facts
- Date
- 25 October 1415
- English king
- Henry V
- French losses
- Almost 6,000
- English losses
- Just over 400
What happened
As part of the long-running Hundred Years War between England and France, King Henry V led an English army into northern France in 1415. On 25 October, near Azincourt, his heavily outnumbered force met a much larger French army; at 11 a.m., History.com's account states, the battle commenced. English longbowmen armed with bows able to strike at roughly 250 yards raked the advancing French ranks with what one account calls a furious bombardment, while heavy rain had turned the ground into mud that bogged down the more heavily armored French knights. Almost 6,000 Frenchmen were killed, against English losses of just over 400.
Why it matters
Agincourt is remembered as one of the most lopsided victories in medieval military history and briefly revived English fortunes in the Hundred Years War, leading to the 1420 Treaty of Troyes, which named Henry V heir to the French crown. The war would end in French victory decades later, but Agincourt cemented Henry V's reputation and became a lasting symbol of English identity.
How we know
The battle is described in multiple contemporary chronicle sources from both the English and French sides, including the near-contemporary Gesta Henrici Quinti, and the lopsided casualty figures are broadly consistent across these independent accounts.
Sources
- History.com (A&E Television Networks). Battle of Agincourt · Reputable sourcehistory.com · The domain "history.com" is on our Reputable source registry. · Link is live and its text matches the event's key terms (Jul 2026)
- Royal Armouries (via Medieval Histories). Agincourt in the Royal Armouries · General sourcemedieval.eu · Cited as a "reference" source (no stronger domain match). · Link is live and its text matches the event's key terms (Jul 2026)
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