Henry V's Navy: The Sea-Road to Agincourt and Conquest 1413-1422

by Ian Friel

An examination of the men, ships, and technology that helped Henry V win one of his greatest victories, the Battle of Agincourt
 
In 1415, Henry V’s English invasion force was carried across the Channel by 1500 ships and boats, eventually to fight at Agincourt.  Henry V built the Jesus , the first ship of 1000 tons, followed by the Grace Dieu of 1400 tons. Why didn't’t the French stop him at sea? Henry V (1413-1422) conquered Normandy and forced the French king to accept him as heir to the French throne. The vital part played in these victories by English sailors and ships deserves to be better understood. Henry understood sea power and used it to clear the way for his two invasions of France.  This book explores the story of the men, ships, operations, and cutting-edge medieval technology of the English fleet, which included both the “king’s ships” and privately-owned vessels.  Using the detailed records of Henry’s ships, other rich documentary sources, and archeological evidence, Henry V’s Navy reconstructs the story of one of England’s most effective, but least remembered navies. This, it can be argued, is the beginning of England’s dominance of the waves.  

Genres: History

224 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2016

Reviews

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

When King Henry IV of England died at the age of 46 in 1413, his crown went to his son Henry of Monmouth. He would become Henry V.

He was believed to be 25 yrs. old when he was crowned. Already battle hardened, very well educated for the times, and capable of being without mercy as events called for rule with a mind of steel.

Henry IV left his son with a navy of 4 small wooden ships. Two of these were barely functional. This Kings focus was never on building a large royal fleet. He had been wasting away since 1406 and had been wracked by disease. Possibly leprosy, severe eczema, or Syphilis.

In addition, the king suffered multiple strokes at the end of his life.
Shipbuilding would be the last thing on his mind.

Henry V was no fool.

He is recognized for his strategic foresight in building a powerful navy, which was crucial for his military campaigns, particularly his invasions of France.

He invested heavily in shipbuilding, constructing large warships like the Grace Dieu and the Jesus, and also developed dockyards to support these efforts.

Henry V was a king to be reckoned with.

The author delves into the materials used. The famous stong wood of the English Oak trees and the
Beech Trees.
The forests of England had no shortage of these trees.

The book is rich in detail with ship names, crew lists, and details on the stored "victuals" mainly consisting of all manner of salted meats and fish, beer and ale and the biscuit made of flour and water hard as stone.

The book is an enjoyable read. The more I learn of Henry V, the more impressed I am.

[Mercedes Rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know how many readers are specifically looking for information about Henry V’s fleet, but I am certainly one of them! I’m happy to say this author has not talked down to the reader, like so many other books of this type. I know very little about the subject, and I found the reading extremely helpful, and the explanations were thorough and understandable. I wish he had started the book with Chapter 4 (SHIPS OF THE WOOD AGE), but that is a minor complaint and everyone has different needs. I needed to know the difference between one ship and another and he started with a more general history. I was later to discover that there are lots of ambiguities in my specific question, since there are no intact surviving ships and contemporary illustrations were not terribly specific. Some names, like balinger vs. barge were often used interchangeably, and the differences can’t be identified by size or shipping capacity. We know that they were oared ships, with lower sides than the carracks. My conclusion is that the early 15th century is one of transition, which helps explain the missing clues. Once I got past that confusion, I was ready for the “meat” of the book, which was the campaigns of Henry V and why they were so important. This is a largely ignored subject, so the book beautifully fills a gap in the historical record. Highly recommended.

[Shrike58 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going into this book, I had hopes but no expectations, as I don't have a great deal of confidence in the publisher. It turns out that this is a fascinating examination of what naval power looked like in the late medieval period, as Friel gives you the nuts and bolts of how Henry's sea power worked, before giving you a campaign history of this naval force. If you're a student of naval history and/or the Hundred Years' War, you really want to read this book. I can also imagine that writers of fantasy wanting some hard data for a sea-faring society should look at this.

[Lucinda Dreadnought · Rating 5 out of 5]

I trust Friel. Loved his Good Ship. This was exceptionally well researched and an easy read. HOWEVER... despite my knowledge of HVs rep as the killer of chivalry... I somehow avoided thinking about the humans he damaged. So bit of a bummer...for me...