Agincourt and Shakespeare, that is what comes to the popular imagination when one thinks of Henry V, one can see why. Agincourt was one of the greatest English victories, up there with Crecy and Poitiers whilst Shakespeare is self-explanatory. But in his new biography of Henry V, Dan Jones shows that there was more to the man than that.
Through going through the old records and explaining things through the present tense (things happen they haven’t happened), Jones shows off how Henry was a multi-faceted man. Someone who was in turns a musician, a scholar and a pious man whilst also being a cold-blooded politician and warrior. A man who brought an entire library with him to campaign in France whilst also waging some of the most important sieges of the 100 years war.
Henry was in Jones’ telling one of the most prepared Kings England had ever had, his apprenticeship saw him cut his teeth fighting in Wales against Owain Gwyndr and the Welsh, he mastered the art of the siege there, perfectly executing the use of cannons and enticements. He became unofficial regent for his father when the latter was taken ill in the latter part of his reign and during that process learnt the importance of creating an image for parliament.
Upon his ascension, Henry adopted an austere image (perhaps the basis for Shakespeare’s Hal to Henry transition), which gave away little of his own thoughts and gave all glory to God. It was perhaps this image that won him the admiration of his people and helped him win them over to his view that there needed to be more funding and more campaigning against the French.
The overwhelming sense from Jones’ biography is that Henry was indeed a great man, one who was able to get what he wanted from Parliament through playing to their heartstrings and by delivering on what he promised. His death in 1422 was a great tragedy and raises the question of what if?
Be sure to get Henry V: The Astonishing Rise of England’s Greatest Warrior King now via Head of Zeus.
Vivek Rajkhowa 
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