Post by Stan on Oct 25, 2012 10:34:39 GMT -8
Greetings All,
25 October 1415 marked the final battle of the 100-year war between the Kingdoms of France and England. More than two months earlier on 13 August the English Army led by King Henry V landed in Northern France with approximately 12,000 English soldiers with the majority being archers. After initially laying siege to the port of Harfleur, King Henry’s army was reduced to 9,000 and was already low on food, supplies and had marched 260 miles over a 2-½ week span. Illness from lack of hygiene and poor water quality also hindered the English and morale was naturally lowered.
The French Army numbered at approximately 36,000 and of course had no issues with their supply line being on their own soil.
King Henry knew that the moment of truth for both he and his army was upon him and that the French had the home advantage of being able to recruit and employ thousands of soldiers to reinforce their numbers. King Henry would initiate the final decisive battle in the open terrain near the woods of Agincourt. King Henry deployed his 1,500 men-at-arms in the center (his maneuver element) and placed his 7,000 archers on the flanks to provide suppressive fires. To protect his archers he emplaced sharpened stakes into the ground so that French men-at-arms and knights could not attack the archer’s positions thereby preventing their suppressive fires. King Henry would command the men-at-arms by placing himself in the center of the battle and was even witnessed as participating in hand-to-hand command combat.
Both French and English accounts state that King Henry gave a speech to his men before the battle. Though the exact words he spoke are not known, William Shakespeare based his play [King Henry V] on this historic battle and the King Henry V speech (Scene IV, Act III) has since been known as one of the most inspiring speeches ever written…
”…If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires;
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive…
…That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart. His passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse.
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say, "To-morrow is Saint Crispian."
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
and say, "These wounds I had on Crispian's day."
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words,
Harry the King, Bedford, and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered,
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here
And hold their manhoods cheap whilst any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.”
The 1989 film based on the same play starred Kenneth Branaugh as King Henry and I ask you with all my being that you watch the link below if you have not already seen it.
The overwhelming fire of the massive quantities of arrows launched by the English Archers decimated the French men-at-arms. Additionally, deep mud severely reduced movement by the armor-laden French soldiers and once close enough, English archers without armor were able to close in and easily dispatch their immobilized adversaries with swords, knives and hammers. Remaining French soldiers were destroyed by the English maneuver element of men-at-arms led by King Henry himself.
The battle ended with an overwhelmingly lopsided military victory for the English Army. English losses were claimed to be 112 killed and the French lost anywhere from 7,000 – 10,000.
Though some technology in the form of the English Longbow played a part in the battle, this was overshadowed by the leadership and inspiration of King Henry who not only planned the combat operation but also led from the front and inspired his men via the spirit of his words and the force of his personality.
And so I named my school of tactics and firearms employment after the Battle of Agincourt and the inspiration of King Henry’s speech; a school that does teach solid and proven techniques and combat skills but more importantly focuses on the warrior spirit and making better leaders to win the day.
The Day is Ours,
Stanton “Stan” Lee
www.stcrispian.com
stcrispian2008@yahoo.com
25 October 1415 marked the final battle of the 100-year war between the Kingdoms of France and England. More than two months earlier on 13 August the English Army led by King Henry V landed in Northern France with approximately 12,000 English soldiers with the majority being archers. After initially laying siege to the port of Harfleur, King Henry’s army was reduced to 9,000 and was already low on food, supplies and had marched 260 miles over a 2-½ week span. Illness from lack of hygiene and poor water quality also hindered the English and morale was naturally lowered.
The French Army numbered at approximately 36,000 and of course had no issues with their supply line being on their own soil.
King Henry knew that the moment of truth for both he and his army was upon him and that the French had the home advantage of being able to recruit and employ thousands of soldiers to reinforce their numbers. King Henry would initiate the final decisive battle in the open terrain near the woods of Agincourt. King Henry deployed his 1,500 men-at-arms in the center (his maneuver element) and placed his 7,000 archers on the flanks to provide suppressive fires. To protect his archers he emplaced sharpened stakes into the ground so that French men-at-arms and knights could not attack the archer’s positions thereby preventing their suppressive fires. King Henry would command the men-at-arms by placing himself in the center of the battle and was even witnessed as participating in hand-to-hand command combat.
Both French and English accounts state that King Henry gave a speech to his men before the battle. Though the exact words he spoke are not known, William Shakespeare based his play [King Henry V] on this historic battle and the King Henry V speech (Scene IV, Act III) has since been known as one of the most inspiring speeches ever written…
”…If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires;
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive…
…That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart. His passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse.
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say, "To-morrow is Saint Crispian."
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
and say, "These wounds I had on Crispian's day."
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words,
Harry the King, Bedford, and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered,
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here
And hold their manhoods cheap whilst any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.”
The 1989 film based on the same play starred Kenneth Branaugh as King Henry and I ask you with all my being that you watch the link below if you have not already seen it.
The overwhelming fire of the massive quantities of arrows launched by the English Archers decimated the French men-at-arms. Additionally, deep mud severely reduced movement by the armor-laden French soldiers and once close enough, English archers without armor were able to close in and easily dispatch their immobilized adversaries with swords, knives and hammers. Remaining French soldiers were destroyed by the English maneuver element of men-at-arms led by King Henry himself.
The battle ended with an overwhelmingly lopsided military victory for the English Army. English losses were claimed to be 112 killed and the French lost anywhere from 7,000 – 10,000.
Though some technology in the form of the English Longbow played a part in the battle, this was overshadowed by the leadership and inspiration of King Henry who not only planned the combat operation but also led from the front and inspired his men via the spirit of his words and the force of his personality.
And so I named my school of tactics and firearms employment after the Battle of Agincourt and the inspiration of King Henry’s speech; a school that does teach solid and proven techniques and combat skills but more importantly focuses on the warrior spirit and making better leaders to win the day.
The Day is Ours,
Stanton “Stan” Lee
www.stcrispian.com
stcrispian2008@yahoo.com