Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
How did an army of English peasant archers defeat some of France's greatest warriors?
On October 25th 1415, Henry V of England took on the mighty French forces at the Battle of Agincourt. Despite being heavily outnumbered, his troops won. It would become one of the most legendary victories in English history - a tale of bravery and triumph against all the odds, inspiring everyone from Shakespeare to Churchill to Kenneth Branagh. But how much of the story we know today is true, and how much has been twisted to suit later politics? What really happened at Agincourt?
0:00 Introduction
0:34 The myth and legacy of Agincourt
2:44 William Shakespeare and the power of propaganda
3:33 The road to war in 1415
5:32 Inside Henry V's medieval army
7:04 The lethal logistics of the English longbow
10:36 Forging a medieval arrowhead
13:52 The English fleet sets sail for France
15:30 A fractured kingdom: the state of France
17:01 The brutal siege of Harfleur
26:42 A desperate march to Calais
31:01 Outmanoeuvred: the French battle plan
34:05 The trap snaps shut at Agincourt
36:35 The St Crispin's Day speech vs reality
40:45 Clash of the titans: armour and tactical blunders
45:45 How mud and chaos won the day
48:34 The seismic aftermath of English victory
#Agincourt #Medievalhistory #Battle
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How did an army of English peasant archers defeat some of France's greatest warriors?
On October 25th 1415, Henry V of England took on the mighty French forces at the Battle of Agincourt. Despite being heavily outnumbered, his troops won. It would become one of the most legendary victories in English history - a tale of bravery and triumph against all the odds, inspiring everyone from Shakespeare to Churchill to Kenneth Branagh. But how much of the story we know today is true, and how much has been twisted to suit later politics? What really happened at Agincourt?
0:00 Introduction
0:34 The myth and legacy of Agincourt
2:44 William Shakespeare and the power of propaganda
3:33 The road to war in 1415
5:32 Inside Henry V's medieval army
7:04 The lethal logistics of the English longbow
10:36 Forging a medieval arrowhead
13:52 The English fleet sets sail for France
15:30 A fractured kingdom: the state of France
17:01 The brutal siege of Harfleur
26:42 A desperate march to Calais
31:01 Outmanoeuvred: the French battle plan
34:05 The trap snaps shut at Agincourt
36:35 The St Crispin's Day speech vs reality
40:45 Clash of the titans: armour and tactical blunders
45:45 How mud and chaos won the day
48:34 The seismic aftermath of English victory
#Agincourt #Medievalhistory #Battle
You can now become a History Hit member right here on YouTube! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more.
Get an exclusive release every week by signing up here: youtube.com/channel/UCZwU2G-KVl-P-O-B35chZOQ/join










