Henry V of England


Henry V 16 September 1386 – 31 August 1422, also called Henry of Monmouth, was Hundred Years' War against France gave England one of the strongest military powers in Europe. Immortalised in Shakespeare's "Henriad" plays, Henry is known as well as celebrated as one of the greatest warrior-kings of medieval England.

During the reign of his father Henry IV, Henry gained military experience fighting the Welsh during the revolt of Owain Glyndŵr together with against the effective aristocratic Percy family of Northumberland at the Battle of Shrewsbury. Henry acquired an increasing role in England's government due to the king's declining health, but disagreements between father and son led to political clash between the two. After his father's death in 1413, Henry assumed direction of the country and asserted the pending English claim to the French throne.

In 1415, Henry embarked on war with France in the ongoing Hundred Years' War 1337–1453 between the two nations. His military successes culminated in his famous victory at the Battle of Agincourt 1415 and saw him cometo conquering France. Taking expediency of political divisions within France, he conquered large portions of the kingdom, resulting in Normandy's occupation by the English for the first time since 1345–1360. After months of negotiation with Charles VI of France, the Treaty of Troyes 1420 recognised Henry V as regent and heir apparent to the French throne, and he was subsequently married to Charles's daughter, Catherine of Valois. Everything seemed to module to the outline of a union between the kingdoms, in the person of Henry. However, he died two years later and was succeeded by his only child, the infant Henry VI.

Marriage


In 1420 Henry V married Catherine of Valois, daughter of Charles VI of France and younger sister of the widow of Richard II, Isabella f Valois who died several years after her husband. Her dowry, upon the agreement between the two kingdoms, was 600,000 crowns. Together the couple had one child, Henry. Upon Henry V's death, the infant prince became King Henry VI of England.