"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers"

The French were reeling 600 years ago from their unexpected, even shocking defeat at the hands of the English at the Battle of Agincourt. The battle was one of the turning points in the Hundred Years War. The conflict arose over claims to the throne of the French kingdom, which the English felt they had a right to because William the Conqueror was originally from Normandy, France.

Photo: telegraph.co.uk

Henry V of England began his campaign against the French with a siege of Harfleur, a seaport on the northwestern coast of France in 1415. The city resisted for a month until surrendering on September 22, but it cost Henry 3000 soldiers. October marked the end of the campaign season but instead of retreating back to England with only one town conquered, Henry attempted to make his way to the English town of Calais in northern France.

Photo: collections.vam.ac.uk

The French had attempted to raise an army to counter Henry during the siege but were unable to muster enough men. When Henry moved north along the coast, the French army followed, recruiting local nobles and hoping to pin the English against the River Somme. Instead, the English found a ford and crossed the river. By October 24, the two armies were in place for battle but the French delayed, hoping for more nobles to join their forces. The exact numbers of the armies is unclear but it was clear the English were in desperate straits: they had little food, were outnumbered, and they were infantry and archers versus French cavalry. The prospects looked bleak for Harry the King.

Photo: historum.com

Despite the odds, the English prepared for battle. Henry gave a speech to inspire the troops, which was dramatized famously by Shakespeare in his play Henry V, known as the St. Crispin's Day speech. The battle commenced and the English longbows prevailed in a shocking victory for Henry, who established himself as a legitimate threat to the French and returned to England as a conquering hero. 

The war dragged until 1453. After that date, the French and English were still technically at war but the English were occupied by the War of the Roses at home and, ultimately, the English relinquished their claim to the French throne in 1475.

Photo: donatoart.com

The Battle of Agincourt was won by the underdogs but also by the countrymen of England. Their performance in defiance of what appeared to be certain annihilation was an inspiration for Shakespeare and generations of Englishmen to come:

"And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day!"