Henry V's Military Genius at Harfleur

On August 13, 1415, King Henry V of England landed his army near Harfleur at the mouth of the Seine River in France. An excerpt from the article:

"Henry V's Military Genius at Harfleur
Kevin Seger

In Shakespeare’s Henry V, Henry’s siege of Harfleur is marked with both triumph and depravity. It is the first battle portrayed in the play, and Henry’s victory sets a precedent of success for future battles. In order to intimidate the governor into finally capitulating, however, Henry has to resort to using threats of wanton violence. The historical Harfleur battle was indeed significant, destructive, and bloody.

Henry V is one of only two English Kings who is still, for the most part, considered to be a hero. Although he owes most of his fame to Shakespeare, the fact remains that, while still under thirty years of age, he twice raised the largest military force England had ever seen. He also succeeded in transporting this force to France and achieving victory in one of the most celebrated battles of English history. In The English Conquest of Normandy, Newhall makes the observation that the reign of Henry V marks a much higher development in the art of war (xiii). By the time of his coronation, he was already a seasoned general, loved and trusted by his men.

Henry sought to revive the English claim to the French throne long before he became king. In A Great and Glorious Adventure, Corrigan tells us that once he took the throne, embassies were sent to France and French assemblies went to England to negotiate these claims (221). According to Holinshed, Henry demanded that the French relinquish control of “the Duchies of Normandy & Aqaitayne, with the Counties of Anion and Muſne, and ye countrey of Gaſcoigne” (Holinshed, 1165). When the French denied him these demands claiming that they were ludicrous, Henry grew agitated.

From various historical accounts, including his depiction in Shakespeare, we learn of his straightforward attitude and his impatience for legal subtleties. Although his background was not strictly military, he was first and foremost a soldier. This blind impatience is ultimately the reason that Henry fails to see the illegitimacy of his claim to the French throne. The consideration of the legality of his actions was of no concern and by early 1414 he was preparing for war.

Neillands tells us that the King’s forces were composed of nine thousand archers and three thousand men at arms for a total of twelve thousand soldiers (222). After several weeks of preparation, Henry set sail for Harfleur on August 11, 1415 (225). Harfleur was an excellent strategic choice for Henry to begin with. It was located at the north mouth of the River Seine, an important river in France, and its capture would give Henry many options for his next strike. It would also give him a port to receive reinforcements through. Corrigan mentions that it would also allow him to blockade a major French trade route (226).

Harfleur was three miles around, surrounded by high stone walls and a deep moat. Neillands tells us that once Henry surrounded the city on August 18, 1415, he gave the French one chance to surrender (207). When they declined his offer, Henry began his siege.

He began attacking with his cannons from the sea, but the sea level in the area prevented the English from getting close enough to do any sort of constant attack. These attacks were somewhat akin to guerilla warfare. Eventually the French forces began to crumble under these assaults and Henry instructed his men to tunnel underneath the moat and wall. These mining efforts did not give the English access to the city, but they did succeed in partially flooding the city and contaminating the French’s water supply (Corrigan, 229).

On September 17, Henry succeeded in destroying one of the barbicans on the wall. He then instructed his men to bombard the city with cannon fire all night to prevent the defenders from doing any repairs. He also prepared his ground troops for an attack the following morning. The attack never happened. The damage to the city and its inhabitants was considerable. The lack of clean water or food coupled with the emergence of dysentery led to the city’s surrender on September 22, 1415, thirty-six days after his siege began (Corrigan, 232)."