Editing Henry V (section)

==1415 campaign==
[[File:Henry V- Harfleur.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Henry V at Harfleur]]

On 11 August 1415 Henry sailed for France, where his forces besieged the fortress at Harfleur, capturing it on 22 September. Afterwards, Henry decided to march with his army across the French countryside towards Calais, despite the warnings of his council. On the 25 October 1415, on the plains near the village of Agincourt, a French army intercepted his route. Despite his men-at-arms being exhausted, outnumbered and malnourished, Henry led his men into battle, decisively defeating the French who suffered severe losses. It is often argued that the French men-at-arms were bogged down in the muddy battlefield, soaked from the previous night of heavy rain, and that this hindered the French advance, allowing them to be sitting targets for the flanking English and Welsh archers. Nevertheless, the victory is seen as Henry's greatest, ranking alongside Crécy and Poitiers.

Towards the end of the battle, with victory in sight, a third French battalion reformed and advanced upon the English army. Henry therefore made a decision that arguably tarnished his reputation. He supposedly ordered that the French prisoners taken during the battle be mercilessly put to death, including some of the most illustrious who could be used for ransom. It is widely held that Henry was concerned that the prisoners might turn on their captors when the English were busy repelling this third wave, thus jeopardising a hard-fought victory. However, the reformation of the third battalion never came to full fruition, and Henry suspended the order in progress.

The victorious conclusion of Agincourt, from the English viewpoint, was only the first step in the campaign to recover the French possessions that belonged to the English crown.