Historical
and Commemorative Medals
Collection of Benjamin Weiss
HENRY V DASSIER, Jean: England, 1731, Bronze, 41 mm Henry V (1387-1422), King of England (1413-1422), was the
eldest son of Henry, Earl of Derby (later Henry IV) and Mary de Bohun. On
his father’s exile in 1398, Richard II took the boy into his own charge,
treated him kindly, and knighted him in 1399. As prince, he gained useful
military experience during campaigns against Owain Glyn Dwr. On his
accession, Henry crushed a Lollard rebellion. He renewed English claims
against France in the Hundred Yar’s War and won a decisive victory over
Charles VI of France at Agincourt in 1415, making England one of the
strongest kingdoms in Europe. Further conquests in Burgundy resulted in the
Treaty of Troyes, when Charles VI recognized Henry as his heir. The
following month Henry married Catherine of Valois, daughter of Charles VI,
King of France. However, he did not live to enjoy his triumph for long,
dying of fever in 1422. (Taken, in part, from Thompson and O’Brien) LINK to portrait of King Henry V (from National Portrait Gallery) |
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