When we think of England’s medieval military triumphs, few battles resonate as powerfully as Agincourt. Fought on October 25, 1415, during the Hundred Years’ War, it pitted an outnumbered English army led by King Henry V against a much larger French force in the muddy fields of Picardy. The victory cemented Henry’s reputation as a heroic warrior-king, inspired generations of chroniclers and playwrights—including Shakespeare—and became a defining chapter in the English national story.

Few modern historians have done more to explore and popularize England’s medieval past than Michael Wood. Known for his evocative documentaries and writings, Wood has often sought to pierce the romantic haze that surrounds iconic moments like Agincourt. By placing such events in their proper historical, social, and human contexts, he helps us understand not just how they were won, but why they continue to matter.

This article will examine the historical reality of the Battle of Agincourt, highlight some of Michael Wood’s insights into the period, and explore how Agincourt fits into the larger tapestry of English—and indeed European—history.

The road to Agincourt

The Battle of Agincourt did not arise out of nowhere. It was one of many episodes in the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453), a prolonged struggle rooted in complex feudal ties, competing claims to the French crown, and economic rivalries. By the early 15th century, the war had already seen phases of intense English success (as under Edward III and the Black Prince) followed by periods of decline.

Henry V, who ascended to the English throne in 1413, inherited a kingdom still nursing wounds from the fractious reign of his father, Henry IV, and deeply in debt from decades of war. Partly to secure domestic legitimacy and partly to pursue longstanding Plantagenet ambitions, Henry renewed claims to the French throne.

In August 1415, he landed in Normandy with a modest army of roughly 12,000 men, aiming to assert his rights and force a favorable settlement. After a protracted siege of Harfleur—during which disease ravaged his forces—Henry decided to march overland toward the English-held port of Calais. It was a bold but risky maneuver. French forces gathered to cut him off, resulting in the climactic confrontation at Agincourt. shutdown123