October 17, 2024 • 2hr 7min
#852 - Dan Jones - The Untold Story Of England’s Greatest King
Modern Wisdom
Key Takeaways
- Henry V is considered one of the greatest English kings, despite only ruling for 9 years, due to his military victories and leadership abilities
- He had an extensive "apprenticeship" as prince that prepared him well for kingship, including fighting rebellions in Wales as a teenager
- Henry V nearly died at age 16 when he was shot in the face with an arrow at the Battle of Shrewsbury - this brush with death seemed to give him a sense of divine purpose
- He was known for his intense focus, discipline, and hands-on leadership style, personally overseeing military operations
- His most famous victory was at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, where he defeated a much larger French army against the odds
- Henry V died suddenly of dysentery at age 35 in 1422, at the height of his power, leaving an infant son as heir
- His early death and lack of time to consolidate his conquests in France contributed to instability and eventually the Wars of the Roses
- Studying figures like Henry V provides valuable historical perspective and context for understanding leadership and politics today
Introduction
Dan Jones is a historian, author and podcaster who has written extensively on medieval English history. In this episode, he discusses his new book on King Henry V of England, who reigned from 1413-1422 and is considered one of England's greatest monarchs despite his short reign. Jones explains why Henry V made such an impact on history, how he rose to power, what he accomplished as king, and why his legacy has endured for over 600 years.
Topics Discussed
Henry V's Background and Rise to Power (1:13)
Henry was born in 1386 as the eldest son of Henry Bolingbroke, who would later depose King Richard II and become King Henry IV. As a child, Henry (the future Henry V) was not expected to become king. However, when his father seized the throne in 1399, 13-year-old Henry suddenly became heir to the crown.
Jones explains that Henry IV faced challenges to his legitimacy as a usurper. To prepare his sons for leadership, he sent the young Henry to Wales to help suppress a major rebellion led by Owain Glyndŵr. At age 16, Henry nearly died when he was shot in the face with an arrow at the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403.
As Jones notes: "There's a great letter that he writes when he's 15...to paraphrase 'Dear Dad, all going jolly well in Wales. This Glyndŵr you told me so much about, he keeps putting it about that he wants to fight me. So I went to give him a fight, but he wasn't where he said he was going to be. So I went around his house and he wasn't in, so I burned it down...Now, we're still having fun, but we are quite short of money. Please send money.'"
Henry V's Character and Leadership Style (51:15)
- Known for his intense focus, discipline and hands-on leadership
- Very serious personality - not known for partying or womanizing like some medieval kings
- Personally led troops in battle and oversaw siege operations
- Micromanaged details and gave very specific orders to subordinates
- Seen as God's chosen instrument and believed he had a divine purpose
Jones describes Henry V's leadership style: "He has an amazing level of clarity about what he wants to do and an exceptional ability to execute on it without distraction, without deviation, without sort of surrendering to his appetites and losing focus. It's an unusual combination."
The Battle of Agincourt (1:00:14)
Henry V's most famous victory was at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. Key points about this battle:
- Henry invaded France with an army that was exhausted and depleted after a long siege
- The English were vastly outnumbered by the French forces
- Henry used terrain and English longbowmen to funnel the French cavalry into a killing zone
- The English achieved a stunning victory against the odds
- Henry ordered French prisoners to be executed during the battle when it looked like the French might counterattack
Jones explains the significance: "He wins against the odds and he wins in dramatic fashion. And they take tons of prisoners and it's a b****y brutal battle...He comes back victorious and there's a sort of triumph through the streets of London to celebrate this miraculous victory."
Henry V's Achievements as King (1:22:05)
- Conquered large parts of France, including Normandy
- Negotiated the Treaty of Troyes in 1420, making him heir to the French throne
- Married Catherine of Valois, daughter of the French king
- Unified England after years of instability under previous kings
- Promoted use of English language in government
Jones summarizes: "By 1420, his victories have added up and the French are in such dire straits that he forces on the Treaty of Troyes, by which he replaces the dauphin as the heir to the realm. So the minute Charles VI dies, Henry will become king of France as well as of England."
Henry V's Sudden Death and Legacy (1:24:31)
Henry V died suddenly of dysentery in 1422 at age 35, at the height of his power. His infant son, Henry VI, inherited the throne. Key points about the aftermath:
- Henry's early death left his conquests in France unconsolidated
- His infant son was too young to rule effectively
- England eventually lost control of its French territories
- Political instability in England contributed to the Wars of the Roses
Jones explains the impact: "If Henry V had lived ten, even another five years, my feeling is he would probably have settled matters with the Dauphin, brought the war to an end...That I think was the missing third act."
Historical Perspective on Leadership and Politics (1:47:55)
Jones discusses how studying historical figures like Henry V can provide valuable perspective on leadership and politics today:
- Shows how individual personalities can shape major events
- Provides context for understanding current political divisions and tribalism
- Illustrates timeless themes in human nature and politics
- Encourages nuanced, evidence-based analysis rather than ideological thinking
As Jones notes: "History has a role to play, a significant role to play in culture and politics...It can also be a great contextualizer. That's one of the things that history [does]...it allows us to gain better perspective on the world we live in, to recognize themes and patterns that are sort of inherent to human behavior over centuries, millennia, whatever it might be."
Conclusion
King Henry V of England packed an extraordinary amount of achievement into his short 9-year reign, including famous military victories like Agincourt and the conquest of large parts of France. His intense focus, hands-on leadership, and belief in his divine purpose made him one of England's most renowned monarchs. However, his early death at age 35 left his infant son to inherit an unstable political situation that eventually led to the Wars of the Roses. Studying figures like Henry V provides valuable historical perspective for understanding leadership and politics in any era.