Paragraph on “What happened near the village of Agincourt in 1415?” complete paragraph for Class 9, Class 10, Class 11 and Class 12

What happened near the village of Agincourt in 1415?

Edward III of England claimed the throne of France in 1337 and began the conflict known as the Hundred Year War. It started with spectacular victories for Edward and his son, the Black Prince, but these early promises of success were not fulfilled, and the fighting became very spasmodic.

When Edward’s great- grandson, Henry V, came to the throne, hostilities were soon resumed. Henry set sail from England with his army in 1415 and captured the port of Harfleur. After about a month, he decided to return  to England via Calais. On 24 October, he found his road blocked by a new French army. The English army had been marching for more than a foirnight, and , racked with disease, were extremely weary.

This new army, under the command of Charles d’Albret, Constable of France, outnumbered the English by at least three to one. Henry realized that he could not avoid a fight, and ,a at dawn on 25 October  (St Crispin’s Day), both armies prepared for battle.

The French commander selected the site between two woods near the village of Agincourt. This was his first and most significant error, because it meant that his army was confined to a narrow front about 1,000 m (3,300 ft) wide. His divisions were forced to draw up behind one anther rather than side by side, thus presenting a much easier target for the English archers.

Henry faced his opponents with fewer than 900 men of arms, protected by archers on each side totaling some 4,000 men.

The battle began, and the English were the first to attack. Wave after wave of arrows from the powerful English longbows provoked the French into action. The French cavalry charged, then charged again, but to little advantage. D’albret decided to throw the main body of his army into action and ordered it o advance to the English line. This meant that they army had to cross water- logged fields, and the French knights were so crowded together, it was impossible for them to raise their lances. As they advanced, they faced a hail of arrows directed with deadly accuracy, but at one point they did force the English line to yield. Hennery ordered some of his archers to swing into action with axes and small swords, and this surprise attack on the French flanks destroyed the momentum of their charge. The French never recovered, and within three hours, they were routed.

The French losses were appalling. An estimated 10,000 lay dead on the field of battle, and much of the French nobility was slain.

The battle of Agincourt was not decisive in itself, but it led to a succession of English victories, and in 14230, Henry forced the French to accept the Treaty of Troyes whereby he gained the French crown.