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King Henry V saw his reign and military efforts in France as a holy crusade to reclaim the French throne for his ancestors. Almost everything he did was governed by a well-thought-out philosophy that united political power, religious devotion and military success. This book includes the most up-to-date research on Henry V's reign, with a focus on historiography. His role in English history, as well as his actions as a ruler and military commander, are discussed throughout the text. This approach demonstrates how historians interact with a complicated academic literature that oscillates between hero worship and vilification of Henry. In the end, Henry V is measured by the standards of his day and was unquestionably a successful warrior king.
List of contents
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments
List of Maps and Illustrations viii
Timeline
The Central Characters
Preface
Introduction: Constructing and Deconstructing the Legend of Henry V
The Measure of Greatness¿5 delete¿ deleteDebating Shakespeare's Warrior King: A Historiographic Overview¿8
One. Authority in Crisis: The Valois and Lancastrian Dynasties
Christendom in Crisis¿19 delete¿ deleteThe Valois Dynasty and the Hundred Years War¿20 delete¿ deleteThe Lancastrian Dynasty: Rebellion, Regicide, and Redemption¿25 delete¿ deleteThe Mad King and the Warrior King: Charles VI and Henry V¿30
Two. The Usurper's Son: Prince Hal
From Prince Hal to King Henry V¿36 delete¿ deleteFamily Life and the Education of a Prince¿38 delete¿ deleteFrom Hostage to Heir to the Throne¿44
Three. The Sins of the Father: Expiation and Restoration
A Funeral Fit for a King¿55 delete¿ deleteThe Enduring Scandal of Usurpation¿56 delete¿ deleteAtonement and Reformation¿61
Four. Contracting with God for Holy War
Penance and Oblations¿68 delete¿ deleteLiturgical Quid Pro Quö70 delete¿ deleteMemento Mori¿74
Five. Holy War: The Scourge of God
A New Man: The Grace of Coronation and Conquest¿79 delete¿ deleteModeling Holy War¿81 delete¿ deleteWaging Holy War¿85
Six. Miraculous Victory: Agincourt
The Myth of Agincourt¿93 delete¿ deleteThe Norman Invasion and the Siege of Harfleur¿99 delete¿ deleteThe Battle of Agincourt¿102 delete¿ deleteThe Massacre of Prisoners¿114 delete¿ delete"God Fought for Us": Remembering a Miracle¿121
Seven. From Warrior King to Cradle King: The Treaty of Troyes and Henry VI
The Treaty of Troyes¿125 delete¿ deleteHenry VI and the Dual Monarchy¿131
Eight. A Just and Holy Warrior?
Romanticism, Revisionism, and Judgment¿135
Suggestions for Further Reading
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the author
Timothy M. Thibodeau is professor emeritus of history at Nazareth College of Rochester in New York. He has published extensively on the history of Christianity in the Middle Ages. He also has been a contributor to national and international media outlets, including the History Channel.
