Henry V

Henry V

Dan Jones

📚 GENRE: Biographies & Memoirs

📃 PAGES: 432

✅ COMPLETED: February 25, 2025

🧐 RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Short Summary

Henry V lived to be just 35 years old, but he’s widely considered one of the greatest kings to ever rule England. What did he accomplish in such a short time, and why was his life so special? In Henry V, Dan Jones explores the man behind the mask. 

Key Takeaways

1️⃣ Prince First, King Second — Henry V was a successful king in part because he was well prepared for the role. Henry was named Prince of Wales at around age 12, and during his time as prince, he faced significant challenges that required strong leadership and military action. These experiences gave him the confidence, knowledge, and connections he needed to make a seamless transition to king in 1412 after his father’s death. 

2️⃣ Military Success in France — Henry V is most remembered for his military success in France, notably his victory at the Battle of Agincourt (1415) and his conquest of Normandy (1417-1419). These were unlikely victories that helped England briefly take control of the Hundred Years’ War between the two rival nations. Henry’s successful military campaigns in France culminated in the Treaty of Troyes, which was signed in 1420 and positioned him as the heir to the French throne. However, he died in 1422 before he could be crowned. 

3️⃣ Uncertain Legacy — There are mixed opinions about Henry V’s legacy. Most people regard him as one of the greatest kings to ever rule England, but there is a small minority that feels he took unnecessary military risks that were primarily meant to further his own cause. In the decades following his death at age 35, his victories in French territory were reversed as England struggled to find its footing and France rallied behind leaders like Charles VII. By the mid-1500s, England had lost all of its territories in France. Regardless, what Henry V accomplished in France was remarkable and highly respected. 

Favorite Quote

“From his earliest years Henry is well-read and interested in the world of words and ideas: an admirer of men who wield the pen as well as the sword."

Introduction

  • About the Book — This biography covers the life of Henry V, considered by many to be one of the greatest medieval rulers England ever had. The book takes readers through Henry’s life before and after becoming king. A unique aspect of this book is that it’s written in the present tense using a narrative style. This is why some of the quotes throughout these notes are written in the present tense. 
  • About the Author — Dan Jones is a New York Times bestselling author and historian. He is also the host of a podcast called This is History: A Dynasty to Die For. 
  • Henry V: Short Rule, Major Impact — Although he ruled for barely nine years (from 1413-1422) and died at the age of 35, Henry V was instrumental in England’s success in its longstanding war with France (known as the Hundred Years’ War). Notably, his leadership helped England win the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, a pivotal moment that led to the capture of the crown of France. The victory solidified his reputation as a great military leader, and he went on to capture additional territories in France. He lived a very short life but clearly had a major impact. To this day, he is still talked about, and his life is often used as an example of strong leadership. 

Part I: Prince (1386-1413)

  • Henry V Is Born — Henry V was born September 16, 1386 in Monmouth Castle. He was born into the Lancaster family, a powerful branch of the English royal family. Although his father, Henry IV (known as Henry Bolingbroke at the time), was not yet king, the family had close ties to the king. Indeed, at the time of Henry V’s birth, Henry IV’s cousin, Richard II, had been the king for 10 years after taking the throne at age 10. Henry V’s grandfather — Henry IV’s father — was John Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster and one of the richest, most powerful noblemen in England. 
  • Henry V: Avid Reader — Henry V was an avid reader, especially in his early years growing up in the House of Lancaster. He learned multiple languages at a young age and was always eager to read and expand his knowledge. This penchant for reading and learning is a common trait among the successful people I’ve read about.
    • Quote (P. 12): “From his earliest years Henry is well-read and interested in the world of words and ideas: an admirer of men who wield the pen as well as the sword.”
  • England vs. France — To understand Henry V’s life, you need to first recognize the tensions between England and France. Henry V’s entire story takes place in the middle of the Hundred Years’ War between England and France. Yes, these two nations were at war for more than 100 years (1337-1453). And they had battled for territories many, many other times in the centuries before. These are two nations that did not like each other. This particular war — the Hundred Years’ War — started in 1337, when Edward III tried to claim the French crown by using military force.
    • Quote (P. 16): “England and France [at the time] had been at war for 59 years. Ever since the Norman Conquest of 1066, English rulers have held territories in France, and have therefore been drawn into armed contests to expand or defend them. But the particular origins of this war lie in the year 1337, when Henry’s great-grandfather, Edward III, intervened in a succession crisis in France, claiming the French crown was his by legal and moral right, and committed himself to proving that fact by military conquest. Since then, the war has defined relations between England and France, and has dragged in neighboring realms including the Spanish kingdoms, Scotland, and the counties of the Low Countries. It has consisted of periods of intense, bloody fighting, interspersed with lulls during which both sides plot their next move.”
  • An Attempt at Peace — In an effort to strike peace between England and France, king Richard II of England in 1396 agreed to marry the oldest daughter of Charles IV, the king of France. Richard II was nearly 30 years old at the time; the daughter of Charles IV (Isabelle Valois) was 6 years old! Both kings understood that each side lacked the resources to win the war anytime soon, so they figured this marriage would bring peace, at least for a few years. The two were wed in October of 1396. 
  • “The Appellants” — The Appellants were a group of nobleman in England who sort of rebelled against king Richard II in an attempt to limit his power. Henry IV joined this group in 1386. Remember, Henry IV was Richard II’s cousin. The main issues that caused the group to assemble in the first place was Richard II’s reliance on corrupt advisors, his mismanagement of the war with France, and his power-hungry attitude. The coalition worked together to limit the power of the king, who was still a teenager at the time. They also removed his closest advisors by beheading or exiling them. The Appellants did all of this because they thought it was best for the kingdom, but they really pissed off Richard II in the process. 
  • King Richard II Gets Revenge — King Richard II got his revenge on the primary members of The Appellants during a Parliament assembly in September 1397. Back in the 1300s, the king is the one who called for these Parliamentary assemblies, which were the largest possible meetings of lords and commons. In this case, king Richard II used the platform to get his revenge: he called for the beheading of one of the group’s members, initiated the assassination of another, and eventually exiled the other three, including Henry VI. It is alleged in this book that part of the reason Henry IV was allowed to live was because he helped the king get his revenge on the other Appellant members. There doesn’t appear to be any actual proof of this though. 
  • Henry IV Exiled — Henry IV (still Henry Bolingbroke at the time) was one of three Appellant coalition members exiled from England as part of King Richard II’s revenge tour. But the exile didn’t happen immediately. Instead, King Richard II announced a battle to the death between Henry IV and Thomas Mowbray, another member of the Appellants. On the day of the battle in 1398, King Richard II changed his mind and decided to exile both of them instead; Mowbray for life and Henry IV for 10 years. This decision left Henry V alone in England with his grandpa John Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster. 
  • Changing of the Guard — In 1399, John Gaunt — Henry IV’s father and Henry V’s grandpa — dies. Why is this significant? Because rather than allowing Henry IV, who was peacefully serving his exile time in Paris, to claim his rightful inheritance and land, King Richard II decided to take it all for himself and extend Henry IV’s exile from 10 years to life. This obviously did not sit well with Henry IV, who formed an alliance with the brother of the French king and escaped Paris. When he arrived back in England, Henry IV led a full-blown rebellion. He captured King Richard’s most loyal supporters and imprisoned King Richard himself in the Tower of London. King Richard was later deposed and Parliament selected a new king. Henry IV became King Henry IV. 
  • King Henry IV Is Crowned — After Henry IV (Henry Bolingbroke) and his rebellion captured, imprisoned, and deposed King Richard II, a successor had to be named. King Richard did not have children, so there wasn’t a direct heir to the crown. Parliament ultimately gave the crown to Henry IV. He was King Richard’s cousin, meaning he was a grandchild of Edward III, a previous king. So he had an indirect line to the crown. He was also a proven warrior, a military leader, and an adult who the people overwhelmingly supported. The combination of all these things was enough to make him king. He was crowned on October 13, 1399. One of the first things King Henry IV did was name Henry V, who was 13 years old, Prince of Wales. Henry V also became next in line to the throne. 
  • Going to Battle — As Prince of Wales, Henry V was responsible for helping England defend against threats. In 1400, he joined his father and 13,000 troops in a battle against Scotland, which had been raiding northern England. In 1401, a rebellion against England was brewing in Wales, the territory he resided over as prince. One of the first signs of trouble occurred when a small group of Welshman overtook Conwy Castle and the Englishmen who watched over it. Henry V was one of the leaders who rushed to the castle. After the Welsh leaders traded a few of their men for a royal pardon and other contingencies, Henry V decided to send a message by forcing the Welsh leaders to watch as the English slaughtered the men who had been given up in the deal. Henry V was only 14 years old at the time. 
  • Henry V Takes Arrow to Face — In 1403, Prince Henry is named royal lieutenant of Wales. This gives him full command over his principality’s military resources and troops. This move happens at an important time — one of England’s own was in the process of leading a rebellion against him. The threat was a serious one, as the outcast had a sizable army and was heading toward Prince Henry and his crew. King Henry IV met Prince Henry near Shrewsbury. The two armies were enough to overcome the rebel forces, but Prince Henry was hit in the face by an arrow during the battle. He survived.
  • King Henry IV’s Health Declines — Around 1406, King Henry IV’s health began to decline rapidly. His health was so poor that a 16-member council was established to run England while he was working through his issues. Prince Henry was one of the members. Although he wasn’t the leader of the council, the opportunity turned out to be a great apprenticeship for his eventual transition to king. During his years on this council, he learned more about business, studied England’s constitution, deepened his understanding of the political landscape, built strong relationships with key figures, and gained more experience in leadership. It eventually got to the point where he felt ready to become king — Prince Henry’s ambition, paired with King Henry’s refusal to die, caused some tension between them.
    • Quote (P. 116): “Yet at the same time, this is the best training a monarch-in-waiting could possibly have. Over the next two years, Henry’s role on the council and his relationship with Archbishop Arundel will drill into him the first principles of the English constitution. It will deepen his understanding of the business of rule, teach him the value of political partnerships and, effectively, complete his education in the technical aspects of government. It will also make him impatient for the day when he can wear the crown in his own right — which will in turn create significant tension between him and his father.”
  • Prince Henry Conquers the Welsh — For many years, a Welsh rebellion led by Owain Glyndwr threatened England’s rule in Wales and acted as a thorn in Prince Henry’s side. Henry was the Prince of Wales, yet this pack of rebels wreaked havoc and constantly threatened his position. Around 1408, Prince Henry and his troops slowly began to get a grip on this group. They won victories at Aberystwyrh Castle and Harlech Castle (Glyndwyr’s home base), which helped extinguish most of the Welsh momentum and put Glyndwr on the defensive. He went into hiding until 1415, when he disappeared forever. 
  • Prince Henry Leads Royal Council — In 1409, Prince Henry ascended to the head of the royal council working under King Henry, who continued to struggle with health issues. Prince Henry filled the council with trusted allies who aligned with his vision and values. As head of the royal council, Prince Henry continued to gain valuable experience in governance, diplomacy, and military strategy. This period helped him develop into a decisive and ambitious leader. 
  • Avid Reader — Henry V was a big-time reader, which played a significant role in his intellectual and political development, particularly during his time as Prince of Wales. He was known to have an interest in history, philosophy, and theology, which helped shape his leadership style and decision-making. His reading of books on kingship and governance likely influenced his vision of strong, just rule. Reading also played a practical role in his military strategies, as he studied warfare and tactics to prepare for future campaigns. This habit of reading set him apart from many medieval rulers and contributed to his reputation as a disciplined and capable leader.
    • Quote (P. 146): “Busy as he is becoming in 1410 and into 1411, Henry still finds time to enjoy one of his lifelong pleasures: reading. Since he was a young boy he has been surrounded by books, from his mother’s beautiful devotional works to the Latin primers bought for his schoolroom.”
  • Prince Henry, King Henry at Odds — By 1411, things were fairly tense between Prince Henry and King Henry due to differences in governance and foreign policy. Prince Henry also felt ready to become king, but King Henry refused to succumb to the illness that had been plaguing him for years and retained the crown. Things escalated in 1411 when Prince Henry went behind his father’s back and sent troops to support one of the groups fighting in the civil war that had broken out in France. The king was not happy. He overruled the decision and removed Prince Henry from the royal council in 1412. This move by Prince Henry is one of several examples that highlights the contrasting strategies of father and son.
  • King Henry IV Dies — In March 1413, King Henry IV finally passed away after dealing with major health issues for several years. Henry IV’s passing paved the way for Henry V (Prince Henry at the time) to become king. This transition of power came at one of the lowest times in Henry V’s life. Not long before, he was removed from the king’s royal council and was not chosen to lead England’s campaign into France (his brother, Thomas, was chosen to lead the campaign instead). Embezzlement rumors involving Henry V were also in the air — rumors that he denied vehemently. Regardless, Henry V was now king. And his time as Prince of Wales and his service on the royal council were instrumental in his preparation for the role. He had been battle-tested. He had been forced to make tough decisions. He was ready to be king.
    • Quote (P. 174): “Since 1399 Henry’s life has been a journey toward this moment: the day when he takes the crown, not as a usurper like his father, but as a lawful heir. He was not born to do this job, but he has nonetheless expected to do it for all of his adult years. His apprenticeship has been longer, more testing, and rounder in its demands than that of any other English king since Edward I inherited the crown in 1272. It has nearly killed him. It has exposed his faults and demanded that he recognize and learn to control them. It has hardened him. But this long apprenticeship has also allowed Henry the freedom to make mistakes, to try on different political guises, to work out who to trust, and to grow as sure as he can be of how to approach kingship when it belongs to him in full.”
  • Chapter Takeaway — Henry V’s life is a story defined by two key periods: his time as prince and his time as king. His time as Prince of Wales (1399-1413) hardened him. As prince, he was forced to make difficult decisions and extinguish legitimate threats to the realm, like the uprising in Wales led by Owain Glyndwr. During this period, he also served on the royal council, where he created close alliances with other political figures in England and learned who he could, and could not, trust. All of it was a perfect training ground for his eventual rise to King of England. He was very prepared for the role when he took the throne in 1413. 

Part II: King (1413-1422)

  • King Henry V Is Crowned — Prince Henry became King Henry V on April 9, 1413, succeeding Henry IV on the throne. He was coronated at Westminster Abbey in London. He was 26 years old at the time and faced several key issues right away, including rebellions in England and what to do about France, which was in the middle of a bloody civil war at the time. 
  • Opportunity in France — France was mired in a nasty civil war when King Henry V took the throne. With France divided, King Henry saw an opportunity to strike a soft target with military force. He began aggressively raising money through taxation and other means to prepare for an invasion of France, which had always been England’s arch nemesis. In 1415, the two sides of France’s civil war finally called a temporary truce in an effort to present a unified front and dissuade King Henry from intervening. Why did King Henry want to invade? He wanted to lay claim to French territory (and the French throne) that he believed was his through ancestral rights, he wanted to marry the French king’s daughter, and he wanted to claim France’s kingdom for all of England. In August 1415, the first expedition began. 
  • Invasion of France Begins — In August 1415, King Henry led England into France. The first territory they targeted was a town called Harfleur. King Henry believed Harfleur could serve as an English home base and stronghold in France. Aided by the use of cannons, England took the town, but thousands of men were lost to disease and death by combat. After more than a month of fighting, King Henry was eventually awarded the keys to the town after the Frenchmen in Harfleur surrendered. Harfleur became an English port. 
  • The Battle of Agincourt — After their victory at Harfleur, King Henry and his men headed to Calais, another English-controlled port in northern France. About halfway there, the English — who were exhausted and weakened from taking Harfleur — were met near the village of Agincourt by an army of Frenchmen who had orders to block their path to Calais. In late October, the battle of Agincourt began. Despite being significantly outnumbered by the French, King Henry and his men won the fight. Henry’s strategic placement of his archers was crucial to the victory. After the battle was won, Henry made a controversial decision to slaughter most of the French prisoners that were captured. This decision was made because the English believed a second wave of Frenchmen was on the way, but the decision nonetheless is seen by some as a stain on Henry’s legacy. Overall, England’s victory in this battle is considered one of King Henry’s crowning life achievements. 
  • England Defends Harfleur — Not long after England’s victory at Agincourt, France tried to recapture Harfleur by surrounding the town and trying to starve the Englishmen who were occupying it. King Henry responded by assembling 7,500 men for a naval campaign (1416) to break up the French sea blockade, and he chose his brother John to lead it. The fight that ensued at sea was as bloody as the battle at Agincourt, but England ultimately came out on top. The victory allowed England to resume shipping supplies and food into the town. Harfleur was no longer under threat. 
  • The Treaty of Canterbury — King Henry was an excellent diplomat. One of most effective alliances he made was with Germany. In 1416, he and King Sigismund of Germany signed the Treaty of Canterbury, which united the two nations, with a focus on defeating France. King Henry relied on the alliance several times during his campaigns into French territory. 
  • England Invades Normandy — England’s second major invasion of France began in 1417, when King Henry and more than 10,000 troops sailed across the English Channel to Normandy, about 20 miles south of Harfleur. Interesting fact — King Henry crossed the Channel on a brand-new ship called Jesus. They decided to storm Normandy by starting on the lower end and working their way up. Below is a sequence of their attacks:
    • Caen — England’s first major victory of this campaign was at Caen, the capital of Lower Normandy. The battle took about two weeks before Caen surrendered. After the victory, King Henry immediately organized a new government for Normandy, and he decided that Caen would be the headquarters. He also summoned thousands of Englishmen to cross the Channel and occupy the town. He also minted new coins that featured his face and advertised him as king of France. 
    • All of Lower Normandy — As England continued to advance and capture additional territories in Lower Normandy, King Henry secured partnerships with two independent realms called Breton and Anjou to protect England from attack along two of Normandy’s frontiers. By the summer of 1418, all of Lower Normandy was England’s. King Henry and his men began advancing toward Upper Normandy. 
    • Rouen — England’s capture of Rouen, a large city that had 20,000 citizens and 1,500 soldiers, was one of the campaign’s major milestones. Rather than attacking the city with muscle, King Henry decided to play the long game: He blocked the city’s food and supply routes and forced the city to starve. After six months of this, Rouen surrendered. Other towns in the Upper Normandy area also surrendered to King Henry. With Normandy in his control, his attention shifted to Paris.
  • Why Didn’t France Fight Back? — King Henry and his men faced very little resistance as they invaded France and worked their way up Normandy. Why? It’s important to remember that France was still embroiled in a civil war. The nation was not united. There were groups of Frenchmen fighting other groups of Frenchmen. Not only was this distracting — it also meant France couldn’t deploy as many resources and men to challenge England. This made England’s expedition a lot easier than it would have been if France was united and working as one. 
  • Eyeing Paris & John the Fearless Murder — After taking all of Normandy, King Henry engaged in peace talks with the French, but they were unwilling to meet his lofty demands. As a result, England moved forward and captured Pontoise, a town 20 miles outside Paris. The next step was Paris, but seizing the capital required significant resources. Henry wasn’t sure if he had what he needed, and the two sides of France’s civil war were nearing a truce agreement with the goal of uniting as one to flush England out. So Henry considered returning home to London with his troops to regroup. But just as the truce was nearing completion, one side (the Armanacs led by Charles VII, son of the sitting King Charles VI) murdered the leader of the other side (John the Fearless, who led the Burgundians). This reignited the civil war and led the Burgundians — who controlled Paris — to align with King Henry. 
  • The Treaty of Troyes: France Is King Henry’s — After John the Fearless was murdered in 1419 at the direction of Charles VII, chaos ensued and King Henry decided that he wanted all of France. He wanted to marry Catherine, the daughter of Charles VI, king of France. He wanted to be named heir to the French throne following King Charles VI’s eventual death. He wanted to establish a dual monarchy (England and France) that he would lead as its king. After positioning his army outside of Paris and threatening to strike, King Henry finally got his wish. The Burgundians, who sensed that they didn’t have any choice, decided to accept his terms and enter into an alliance with England. The alliance was called the Treaty of Troyes, and it put France in King Henry’s hands. It allowed him to marry Catherine, Charles VI’s daughter, and it named him the future king of France over Charles VI’s son, Charles VII. The treaty was signed in 1420.
    • Quote (P. 312): “Divided into thirty-one clauses, the treaty [Treaty of Troyes] lays out the conditions for Henry’s impending marriage to Catherine. It disinherits the dauphin [Charles VII] and appoints Henry as the regent of France, providing that he does not ‘disturb, disquiet or impede’ the king for the rest of his natural life. It explains how, on Charles’s death, the throne of France will pass to Henry and his heirs, never to be relinquished.”
  • Going Home — After the Treaty of Troyes was signed, King Henry, his army, King Charles VI of France, and Philip the Good went around securing towns near Paris that refused to honor the treaty and cooperate with English rule. King Henry then spent Christmas 1420 in Paris, where he was recognized as heir to the French throne. He and Queen Catherine then headed back home to London in February 1421 while most of his army stayed behind to protect everything England had gained. At this point, King Henry and his army had spent more than four years away from England fighting in France. The purpose of his return home was to celebrate England’s historic victory and encourage additional support, and funding, from the citizens. What King Henry and his army accomplished in France was historic and monumental. This was an incredible achievement. 
  • Return to France & Death — King Henry wasn’t in England for long. By June 1421, he was back on French soil. King Charles VI’s son, Charles VII, was fighting back against the English and refusing to honor the Treaty of Troyes. He believed he was the rightful heir to the French throne. As King Henry was battling Charles VII’s forces — notably in the town of Meaux — news came of his son’s birth. Henry VI was born in December 1421. Sadly, a few months later King Henry became very ill with dysentery. He eventually passed away on August 31, 1422 at the age of 35.
  • Fallout of King Henry V’s Death — King Henry V’s death in 1422 left his 9-month-old son, Henry VI, as king of England and the rightful heir to the French throne under the Treaty of Troyes. However, with Henry VI still a child, England was temporarily ruled by his uncles — John and Humphrey. Although Henry VI was crowned King of France in 1431, the Treaty of Troyes never truly took effect, as Charles VII rejected it and continued the Hundred Years’ War. Ultimately, King Henry V’s achievements brought England closer than ever to ruling France. But his early death and the weak rule of Henry VI led to England’s gradual collapse in the war. In the decades after King Henry V’s death, France steadily reclaimed territory:
    • 1436 — Paris returned to Charles VII’s control
    • 1450 — Normandy was fully recaptured
    • 1453 — England lost the last of its French territories (except Calais) after the Battle of Castillon, which ended the Hundred Years’ War
    • 1558 — England finally lost Calais, its last French possession
  • Chapter Takeaway — What Henry V achieved during his short reign was remarkable. Before his early death, he was on track to accomplish a dual monarchy and rule over both England and France. He was an exceptional leader and military strategist who earned miraculous victories at Agincourt and in Normandy. And when he died, everything began to crumble for England. In the decades following Henry V’s death, France began to reverse all of England’s wins on French soil until they had driven the English out forever. While part of this collapse in France was due to lack of strong leadership English leadership, France was simply a bigger, wealthier nation. Maintaining control over it would have been difficult for anybody.