Changes

For most of the last few years of his father’s reign he was the effective ruler of England as the king’s health declined. Whilst not always agreeing with his father’s politics, especially as regards [[France]], he succeeded to the throne with widespread baronial support; although needing to defeat an assassination plot by those still unforgiving of Henry IV’s treatment of [[Richard II]] – and crushing a major [[Lollard ]] uprising – in his first year as king.

For most of the last few years of his father’s reign he was the effective ruler of England as the king’s health declined. Whilst not always agreeing with his father’s politics, especially as regards [[France]], he succeeded to the throne with widespread baronial support; although needing to defeat an assassination plot by those still unforgiving of Henry IV’s treatment of [[Richard II]] – and crushing a major [[Lollard ]] uprising – in his first year as king.

In 1415 he went to war with [[France]] over king [[Charles VI]]’s refusal to return the old [[Plantagenet]] lands of [[Normandy]] and [[Anjou]] as part of the dowry for his proposed marriage to Charles’ daughter, Catherine. His campaign in France climaxed with the celebrated [[Battle of Agincourt]]. Further campaigns during 1417-19 brought him to the walls of a starving [[Paris]]; and the [[Treaty of Troyes]] in 1420 made Henry heir to the French throne. The next year Catherine gave birth to a son, the future [[Henry VI]].

In 1415 he went to war with [[France]] over king [[Charles VI, king of France|Charles VI]]’s refusal to return the old [[Plantagenet]] lands of [[Normandy]] and [[Anjou]] as part of the dowry for his proposed marriage to Charles’ daughter, Catherine. His campaign in France climaxed with the celebrated [[Battle of Agincourt]]. Further campaigns during 1417-19 brought him to the walls of a starving [[Paris]]; and the [[Treaty of Troyes]] in 1420 made Henry heir to the French throne. The next year Catherine gave birth to a son, the future [[Henry VI]].

In 1421 he was forced back to France, campaigning against the [[Dauphin]] who, understandably, refused to accept Henry’s claim to the French throne. During a siege in 1422, he contracted dysentery, and died. His body was returned to England and buried in [[Westminster Abbey]] beneath his saddle, shield and helmet.

In 1421 he was forced back to France, campaigning against the [[Dauphin]] who, understandably, refused to accept Henry’s claim to the French throne. During a siege in 1422, he contracted dysentery, and died. His body was returned to England and buried in [[Westminster Abbey]] beneath his saddle, shield and helmet.