Henry V stands today as one of the foremost popular figures in world history.
Wherever you are in the world, whether it be Berwick or Lasa, you would be hard pressed not to find someone who has not heard of his legend.
*
Within just 20 years this man accomplished more than most rulers have managed in their entire lifetimes. Virtually undefeated on the field of battle Henry is today regarded amongst members of European civilization as one of the greatest monarchs of all time. Granted the honorific ‘The Great’ in all of the lands over which he ruled in his lifetime he remains held in extremely high regard, in even in nations that have since embraced republican ideologies.
*
Similarly too in the Islamic world he is still regarded as a daemon. The fair skinned fiend from the west whose very gaze can shatter a shield and cause the mightiest of armies to flee. Though he was not a particularly cruel conqueror, especially compared to many previous and subsequent crusaders, his skill on the field of battle was such that he earned himself a special place in the nightmares of all devout Muslims.
*
One cannot help but wonder however, in examining the pages of history, why this man is looked upon in such a positive light by the Anglo people.
For it is clear from even the most cursory glance, that it was his actions in the uniting of France which spelled the ultimate end for the Kingdom of England.
*
The Plantagenet Empire
Henry V*
From his earliest days it was clear that Henry Plantagenet was born to be a soldier. He was only 16 years old when he first led an army to victory against a rebel force in Wales. By the time he became king in 1413 he was already well respected for his leadership abilities.
Henry's campaigns in France began in 1415, the initial attack was directly in response to the Valois support of unrest in Wales however also contributing was the larger issue of the continued instability and chaos from which the French realm was suffering.
Over the following 6 years Henry enjoyed victory after victory as he led his mostly English force against the often against the often far superior numbers loyal to the Valois regime.
As the years went by and France continued to rot from the inside it became ever more helpless against his onslaught and his opponents fell one by one.
It is today generally agreed by historians that the rise of Lucille ('la pucille') was really more the death throes of Valois rule rather than the 'renewed hope for France' it is often romantically painted as by republican groups within France; Nonetheless this period stands out in studying the life of Henry as that in which he suffered his only major defeats, and when he won many of his most prominent victories bringing decades of war between the rival dynasties to an exciting, climactic conclusion at the famed battle of Creuse.
Creuse was a victory so crushing for Henry that it all but ended Valois resistance with one blow, immediately following the battle, the pretender king Charles was forced to flee the country for Aragaon; where he was swiftly imprisoned in exchange for the bargain price sale of lands in Occitania..
Henry had accomplished the great dream of English kings for hundreds of years; the securing of the French throne. Though Henry himself would never be King of France, the death of Charles VI in 1422 has placed his one year old son Henry as France's rightful king. With the removal of the threat of the would-be Charles VII had made Henry's son (also called Henry, the future king Henry VI of England) accepted king of France; and so in the process made Henry of England king in all but name.
Most men would have been content with such an enormous victory and this alone would have secured his place in history, however, Henry was not content. His next campaign was to be even more audacious than the take over of France; he was to retake the Holy Land itself.
In 1436 one of the mightiest forces ever raised by Christendom left Marseille. At its head stood Henry and his closest ally Philip, Duke of Burgundy. In the decade since Henry's great victory in France the two men had planned long and hard for this campaign and now they felt they were finally ready to depart.
Their destination was Egypt.
It had long since been decided that since the Holy Land stood under the sway of Mameluke rule that it would be for the better to strike first at the head of the snake; to first secure their position in the eastern Mediterranean, to defeat all major organised resistance in the area and then to take Jerusalem at their own leisure.
This plan of course was not so novel as many often believe. The 5th crusade had initially planned to attempt the same thing only to fall victim to disease and infighting, the 7th crusade of Louix IX of France had also made the same attempt; with Louis it was money troubles which ultimately spelled his failure.
The first city to be attacked by the crusaders was Damietta. Though the mighty fortress no longer offered the control of the Nile that it did in its former incarnations, it nonetheless stood in an important position for the control of the Eastern Mediterranean.
It was at Damietta that Phillip really showed his worth in the campaign; though Henry was a great military commander he was firmly a product of the medieval era. Philip of Burgundy however stood years ahead of his time; particularly with his confidence in the emerging technology of gunpowder.
The city's mighty walls which would have stood against a conventional crusader army for years fell swiftly and within a matter of a month the city was in Crusader hands.
This sudden victory took the Mameluke's very much by surprise; they had originally thought the city would hold out long enough for them to muster an enormous force with which they could crush the Christian invaders. As things stood however the crusading army was upon them even as they made their initial preperations.
The resistance put up by the Egyptians was impressive. Many major battles were fought on the banks of the Nile as the crusaders steadily made their way south. Of these much has been written over the years, particularly that on many days it was only through Henry's unmatched leadership skills that it was the Christians won the day.
In 1438 Cairo fell to the crusading army and John, Duke of Bedford, the younger brother of Henry was declared the first of the Christian kings of Egypt, thus establishing a new offshoot of the Plantagenet dynasty to stand the test of time.
Henry's next decision was one that is often regarded the worst of his reign. Though he wouldn't live to see its fullest effects within the century it would cost Christendom dear.
The crusader's stay in Cairo was to be a short one. The major Mameluke power bases had been removed and it was believed that they no longer posed a threat. Henry decided that it would be for the best to leave Egypt immediately for the Levant. According to him every moment that Jerusalem lay under heathen hands was a slight against God. After a very brief rest the crusader army struck swiftly towards Palestine. Taking Jerusalem by the end of the next year.
Henry's mistake comes in this hurry to leave Egypt. The Mameluke's were far from defeated: as any glance at a map will tell you the country stretches far further south than Cairo. In Upper Egypt many fortresses still remained under Mameluke control and so would they remain for years to come, the last of them only falling with the onset of the 16th century.
It is here that the military career of Henry V all but comes to a close. With Jerusalem liberated from Islamic occupation and a Christian kingdom established over Palestine (led by Philip of Burgundy) he now returned to western Europe to continue with the business of running his two kingdoms.
Henry passed away peacefully in his sleep on the third of July 1452.
In the years that followed the story of his life passed into legend and in 1642 he was granted sainthood by Pope Paul IV.
Though he is commonly regarded as one of the greatest Englishmen of all time one cannot help but wonder what would have happened had he died before his time.
A Islamic Africa? A heretical France? Perhaps even a United Anglo nation.
*****
A very brief little summary:
POD, 1421: The French rally around a young girl and push back Henry V. As a result he doesn't catch dysentery at the siege of Meaux and survives long beyond the following year.
1422-1425: The '100 Years War' drastically picks up in intensity with both sides quickly making large gains followed by large losses. Eventually England emerge victorious.
1436-1438: The 10th crusade. England-France and Burgundy conquer Mameluke Egypt and Palestine establishing two Christian kingdoms in the region.
1452: Henry V of England dies. Henry III of France becomes Henry VI of England (as he was IOTL).
Wherever you are in the world, whether it be Berwick or Lasa, you would be hard pressed not to find someone who has not heard of his legend.
*
Within just 20 years this man accomplished more than most rulers have managed in their entire lifetimes. Virtually undefeated on the field of battle Henry is today regarded amongst members of European civilization as one of the greatest monarchs of all time. Granted the honorific ‘The Great’ in all of the lands over which he ruled in his lifetime he remains held in extremely high regard, in even in nations that have since embraced republican ideologies.
*
Similarly too in the Islamic world he is still regarded as a daemon. The fair skinned fiend from the west whose very gaze can shatter a shield and cause the mightiest of armies to flee. Though he was not a particularly cruel conqueror, especially compared to many previous and subsequent crusaders, his skill on the field of battle was such that he earned himself a special place in the nightmares of all devout Muslims.
*
One cannot help but wonder however, in examining the pages of history, why this man is looked upon in such a positive light by the Anglo people.
For it is clear from even the most cursory glance, that it was his actions in the uniting of France which spelled the ultimate end for the Kingdom of England.
*
The Plantagenet Empire
Henry V*
From his earliest days it was clear that Henry Plantagenet was born to be a soldier. He was only 16 years old when he first led an army to victory against a rebel force in Wales. By the time he became king in 1413 he was already well respected for his leadership abilities.
Henry's campaigns in France began in 1415, the initial attack was directly in response to the Valois support of unrest in Wales however also contributing was the larger issue of the continued instability and chaos from which the French realm was suffering.
Over the following 6 years Henry enjoyed victory after victory as he led his mostly English force against the often against the often far superior numbers loyal to the Valois regime.
As the years went by and France continued to rot from the inside it became ever more helpless against his onslaught and his opponents fell one by one.
It is today generally agreed by historians that the rise of Lucille ('la pucille') was really more the death throes of Valois rule rather than the 'renewed hope for France' it is often romantically painted as by republican groups within France; Nonetheless this period stands out in studying the life of Henry as that in which he suffered his only major defeats, and when he won many of his most prominent victories bringing decades of war between the rival dynasties to an exciting, climactic conclusion at the famed battle of Creuse.
Creuse was a victory so crushing for Henry that it all but ended Valois resistance with one blow, immediately following the battle, the pretender king Charles was forced to flee the country for Aragaon; where he was swiftly imprisoned in exchange for the bargain price sale of lands in Occitania..
Henry had accomplished the great dream of English kings for hundreds of years; the securing of the French throne. Though Henry himself would never be King of France, the death of Charles VI in 1422 has placed his one year old son Henry as France's rightful king. With the removal of the threat of the would-be Charles VII had made Henry's son (also called Henry, the future king Henry VI of England) accepted king of France; and so in the process made Henry of England king in all but name.
Most men would have been content with such an enormous victory and this alone would have secured his place in history, however, Henry was not content. His next campaign was to be even more audacious than the take over of France; he was to retake the Holy Land itself.
In 1436 one of the mightiest forces ever raised by Christendom left Marseille. At its head stood Henry and his closest ally Philip, Duke of Burgundy. In the decade since Henry's great victory in France the two men had planned long and hard for this campaign and now they felt they were finally ready to depart.
Their destination was Egypt.
It had long since been decided that since the Holy Land stood under the sway of Mameluke rule that it would be for the better to strike first at the head of the snake; to first secure their position in the eastern Mediterranean, to defeat all major organised resistance in the area and then to take Jerusalem at their own leisure.
This plan of course was not so novel as many often believe. The 5th crusade had initially planned to attempt the same thing only to fall victim to disease and infighting, the 7th crusade of Louix IX of France had also made the same attempt; with Louis it was money troubles which ultimately spelled his failure.
The first city to be attacked by the crusaders was Damietta. Though the mighty fortress no longer offered the control of the Nile that it did in its former incarnations, it nonetheless stood in an important position for the control of the Eastern Mediterranean.
It was at Damietta that Phillip really showed his worth in the campaign; though Henry was a great military commander he was firmly a product of the medieval era. Philip of Burgundy however stood years ahead of his time; particularly with his confidence in the emerging technology of gunpowder.
The city's mighty walls which would have stood against a conventional crusader army for years fell swiftly and within a matter of a month the city was in Crusader hands.
This sudden victory took the Mameluke's very much by surprise; they had originally thought the city would hold out long enough for them to muster an enormous force with which they could crush the Christian invaders. As things stood however the crusading army was upon them even as they made their initial preperations.
The resistance put up by the Egyptians was impressive. Many major battles were fought on the banks of the Nile as the crusaders steadily made their way south. Of these much has been written over the years, particularly that on many days it was only through Henry's unmatched leadership skills that it was the Christians won the day.
In 1438 Cairo fell to the crusading army and John, Duke of Bedford, the younger brother of Henry was declared the first of the Christian kings of Egypt, thus establishing a new offshoot of the Plantagenet dynasty to stand the test of time.
Henry's next decision was one that is often regarded the worst of his reign. Though he wouldn't live to see its fullest effects within the century it would cost Christendom dear.
The crusader's stay in Cairo was to be a short one. The major Mameluke power bases had been removed and it was believed that they no longer posed a threat. Henry decided that it would be for the best to leave Egypt immediately for the Levant. According to him every moment that Jerusalem lay under heathen hands was a slight against God. After a very brief rest the crusader army struck swiftly towards Palestine. Taking Jerusalem by the end of the next year.
Henry's mistake comes in this hurry to leave Egypt. The Mameluke's were far from defeated: as any glance at a map will tell you the country stretches far further south than Cairo. In Upper Egypt many fortresses still remained under Mameluke control and so would they remain for years to come, the last of them only falling with the onset of the 16th century.
It is here that the military career of Henry V all but comes to a close. With Jerusalem liberated from Islamic occupation and a Christian kingdom established over Palestine (led by Philip of Burgundy) he now returned to western Europe to continue with the business of running his two kingdoms.
Henry passed away peacefully in his sleep on the third of July 1452.
In the years that followed the story of his life passed into legend and in 1642 he was granted sainthood by Pope Paul IV.
Though he is commonly regarded as one of the greatest Englishmen of all time one cannot help but wonder what would have happened had he died before his time.
A Islamic Africa? A heretical France? Perhaps even a United Anglo nation.
*****
A very brief little summary:
POD, 1421: The French rally around a young girl and push back Henry V. As a result he doesn't catch dysentery at the siege of Meaux and survives long beyond the following year.
1422-1425: The '100 Years War' drastically picks up in intensity with both sides quickly making large gains followed by large losses. Eventually England emerge victorious.
1436-1438: The 10th crusade. England-France and Burgundy conquer Mameluke Egypt and Palestine establishing two Christian kingdoms in the region.
1452: Henry V of England dies. Henry III of France becomes Henry VI of England (as he was IOTL).
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