Agincourt 1415: Triumph against the odds (Campaign) [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

Agincourt 1415 (Campaign ; No. 9)by M. Bennett is a quality overview of an improbable military victory. In 1415, during the Hundred Years War, the English Army commanded by Henry V defeated a French Army many times its size. Bennett goes to great lengths to explain how this happened and concluded that it resulted more from the failures of the French to take advantage of their numerical advantage, then the brilliance of Henry V.

The book follows the typical Ospery format. The most significant difference is that Bennett goes to great lengths to discuss the controversies regarding the battle as well as the inadequacies of the commanding officers. Bennett does not go overboard with his praise for Henry V and discusses his success and failures.

All in all, this is a good read for one that wants an overview of the most famous battle of the Hundred Years War.

If you want a quick overview of the battle of Agincourt, this is the book for you. Mr. Bennett does a good job of: providing an overview of the opposing commanders, discussing the troops (strengths and weaknesses), giving the political background, describing the battle field and (finally) describing the battle. He also explains the differing interpretations of the battle field and the position of the troops. He also talks about a recently discovered document of the French battle plans (and provides the text) that was recently found in the British Library. I would be remiss to not mention that the book actually starts with the battle of Harfluer and describes Henry's retreat through the French countryside before the final battle at Agincourt. As with all the books in this series, the illustration are terrific and the maps and battle plans are worth the price of admission. As with most books in this series, it is quickly read and is a great reference tool for the curious minded.

This is an excellent account of the campaign and battle, by an authority on the subject. It is also excellently illustrated, not just with the maps and colour plates, but also with the monochrome pictures supporting the text - including many modern line drawings made of details expanded from medieval illustrations, as well as numerous contemporary illustrations.

The Contents are -
P07: Origins of the Battle
P11: The Opposing Commanders
.Henry V, King of England [and of France!]; The French Commanders
P17: Opposing Armies
.The Cavalry; The Infantry; The Man-at-Arms: Armour; The Man-at-Arms: Weapons; The Archer; The Crossbowman; The Gunner; Organization: The English; The French
P38: The Agincourt Campaign
.The Siege of Harfleur; The March to Calais; No Passage of the Somme; Henry Raises Morale; Across the Somme; Where are the French?; The March to Agincourt
P61: The Battle of Agincourt
.The French Battle Plan; The English Battle Formation; Negotiations and the Decision on Battle; The English Deployment; The French Deployment; Phase 1: The English Advance and the French Cavalry Charges; Phase 2: The Main French Attack and Melee; Phase 3: The Killing of the Prisoners; The French Plan Revisited
P86: The Outcome of the Battle
P89: The Battlefield Today
P90: Chronology
P91: A Guide to Further Reading
P92: Wargaming Agincourt

The Colour Plates -
P02: Colour Plate - Henry V prepares for battle at Agincourt.
This shows the King in full plate armour and royal surcoat; with servant and fully-armed squire; in the background is a groom and horse, with tents and banner further behind.
P06: Map - Northern France and Southern England in the early 15th century; inset - English Territories in France 1415 [Sadly reduced to Guyenne and Calais].
P15: Colour Plate - Charles d'Albret, Constable of France. This is a full figure in armour and surcoat, with his banner.
P19: Colour Plate - Sir Thomas Erpingham. This is a full figure in armour and surcoat
P26: Colour Plate - An English Archer
P30: Colour Plate - An English Mounted Archer
P39: Map - The Agincourt Campaign
P42: Colour Plate - English Gunners and Gun at Harfleur
P43: Map - Siege of Harfleur
P46-47: -view plan - Harfleur - The Decisive Attack, 17 September 1415.
P55: Colour Plate - Jean le Maingre - `Boucicault' - Marshal of France. This is a full figure in armour, surcoat and poleaxe.
P58: Colour Plate - Guillaume de Martel, Sire de Bacqueveille, bearing the Oriflamme
P63: -page plan - The French Plan
P67: 1/3-page plan - English Battle Formations Typical of the Period
P71: Colour Plate - French Crossbowmen
P74-75:  view plan - The Battle of Agincourt - initial positions, about 11am, 25 October 1415, as seen from the south
P78-79:  view plan - The Battle of Agincourt - as seen from the north, about 12-2pm, 25 October 1415
P83: Colour Plate - Waleran de Raineval, Count de Fauquembergues, charging on horseback, leading the third division [not shown!] in the final charge at Agincourt
P87: Map - Northern France to 1422; inset - English Territories in France 1422
Note - the colour key for English and Burgundian territories on the inset map are to close in colour to easily distinguish -look carefully at Dijon to pick up the contrast.