Agincourt 1415/2015: Commemoration and Reflection

In the first of a series of student blogs on History Programme activities, third year student Emily Lawson reflects on Craig Taylor’s ‘Henry V and Agincourt 1415’ lecture:

As a self-proclaimed medievalist, I was excited to learn that York St John was hosting a public lecture on Henry V and the Battle of Agincourt. Having enjoyed studying the Hundred Years War in first year and possessing an interest in medieval monarchs, this was an event that I did not want to miss!

Craig Taylor provided an engaging and informative talk through the examination of Henry V and his agenda, the Agincourt campaign itself, and its aftermath. For me personally, the vulnerable position of Henry V as King of England in relation to his motives for engaging in war with France was an intriguing point of discussion. Whether Henry would have been able to maintain the crown of England, had Agincourt failed, was one of many thought-provoking questions raised.

Whilst the battle itself is a remarkable event, the legacy of Agincourt is an aspect that I find even more fascinating. It was interesting to learn that Agincourt appeared to have a limited significance in contemporary sources in the decades following the battle, especially with the apparent prominence of the Treaty of Troyes of 1420 and the indication that Henry V would inherit the French crown upon the death of Charles VI. I also enjoyed the analysis of the legacy of Henry as a war hero. This was particularly intriguing as it focused on Henry’s controversial order to slaughter French prisoners during the battle. Craig’s suggestion that the King’s actions had a strong sense of legality, with the lack of condemnation in contemporary sources, as well as the acknowledgment of additional areas of debate allowed us as an audience to thoroughly consider these different notions of historical thought.

I found that the opportunity for audience participation towards the end of the talk proved to be popular. Questions regarding archaeological evidence for the precise location of the battlefield as well as the ways in which Henry V was able to mobilise soldiers for his campaign prompted some really interesting discussions.

Overall, Craig Taylor’s lecture offered an engaging insight into the context and historical debates surrounding Henry V and the battle of Agincourt. I am looking forward to experiencing more public talks on historical events at York St John in the future!

Agincourt and its Legacy: a talk by Dr Craig Taylor (University of York) 21 October 2015

Cry ‘God for Harry, England, and St George!’ Henry V Act 3 Scene 1

This week marks the 600^th anniversary of one of the most famous battles in English history, Agincourt. The scale of the English victory on 25 October 1415 against the French, and its later celebration by Shakespeare, has elevated the battle to legendary status. But what happened at Agincourt, and how much truth is there to the legend?

The History Programme is delighted to welcome Dr Craig Taylor to launch our lecture series this year with a focus on this remarkable battle. Dr Taylor, Director of the Centre for Medieval Studies at the University of York, is an expert on the political, aristocratic and martial cultures of late medieval France and England. He has published widely on the intellectual and cultural debates about chivalry, warfare and politics in the age of the Hundred Years War. His latest book, Chivalry, Honour and Knighthood in Late Medieval France was published in 21013 and he is now finishing a monograph on Christine de Pizan’s views on aristocratic masculinity, warfare and chivalry.

Dr Taylor will talk about the battle of Agincourt and its legacy on Wednesday, 21 October, at 6pm in Fountains Lecture Theatre.