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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 a professor 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.
