Anne Curry is a leading scholar of medieval history, specializing in the Hundred Years' War and the Battle of Agincourt. Her work delves deeply into the lives and experiences of soldiers from the period, employing extensive research to bring the past to life. Curry brings academic rigor to her studies while maintaining an accessible style that engages readers. Her expertise illuminates critical moments in medieval military history.
Focusing on the perspective of Sir Thomas Erpingham, the commander of the English archers, this richly illustrated history provides a detailed account of the battle and Henry V's Normandy campaign. It offers unique insights into the strategies and experiences of the archers, highlighting their crucial role in the conflict and the broader historical context of the era.
A New History
Celebrating the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt, this updated edition by Anne Curry is recognized as one of the finest accounts of the conflict. It offers a detailed examination of the battle's significance, strategies, and the historical context surrounding this pivotal moment in history. Curry's thorough research and engaging narrative provide readers with a vivid understanding of the events and their lasting impact.
Henry V's invasion of France, in August 1415, represented a huge gamble. As heir to the throne, he had been a failure, cast into the political wilderness amid rumours that he planned to depose his father. Despite a complete change of character as king - founding monasteries, persecuting heretics, and enforcing the law to its extremes - little had gone right since. He was insecure in his kingdom, his reputation low. On the eve of his departure for France, he uncovered a plot by some of his closest associates to remove him from power. Agincourt was a battle that Henry should not have won - but he did, and the rest is history. Within five years, he was heir to the throne of France. In this vivid new interpretation, Anne Curry explores how Henry's hyperactive efforts to expunge his past failures, and his experience of crisis - which threatened to ruin everything he had struggled to achieve - defined his kingship, and how his astonishing success at Agincourt transformed his standing in the eyes of his contemporaries, and of all generations to come.
Henry V is probably medieval England's most well-known and admired king, famed for victory at Agincourt. Yet Henry's invasion of France in August 1415 represented a huge gamble. As heir to the throne he had been a failure, cast into the political wilderness amid rumours that he planned to depose his father. Despite a complete change of character as king - founding monasteries and enforcing the law - little had gone right since. He was insecure in his kingdom, his reputation low. Agincourt was a battle that Henry should not have won - but he did. Within five years, he was regent of France. In this vivid new interpretation, Anne Curry explores how Henry's hyperactive efforts to expunge his past failures defined his kingship, and how his astonishing success at Agincourt transformed his standing in the eyes of his contemporaries, and of all generations to come.
The story of Agincourt, one of the most iconic battles in English history - how it was fought, how it has been remembered, and what it has come to mean
The book explores the complexities of the Anglo-French conflicts known as the Hundred Years War, examining whether it was primarily a feudal struggle over territorial rights in Gascony or a dynastic conflict for the French crown. It delves into historical interpretations and the motivations behind the prolonged warfare, offering insights into the political and social dynamics of the later Middle Ages.
There can be no doubt that military conflict between France and England dominated European history in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. This war is of considerable interest both because of its duration and the number of theatres in which it was fought. In this book, Hundred Years' War expert Dr Anne Curry reveals how the war can reveal much about the changing nature of warfare: the rise of infantry and the demise of the knight; the impact of increased use of gunpowder and the effect of the wars on generations of people around it.
The book offers a comprehensive examination of a significant historical battle through a diverse collection of twenty-six chronicle sources in both English and French. It includes accounts from sixteenth-century English historians and records of contemporary reactions to the battle, highlighting its impact on literary traditions in England and France. Additionally, the text presents interpretations spanning from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries and features excerpts from eighteen administrative documents concerning the English and French armies.