Aftermath and legacy

Victory gave English soldiers glory, especially the king. Henry’s reputation as one of England’s greatest rulers was set and reshaped by chroniclers into the early modern period. Eventually, Shakespeare used these narratives to write his play Henry V.

The battle also gave more practical rewards: the chance to steal from French soldiers and, for the lucky few, to ransom wealthy French prisoners. For some veterans, the victory meant they could more easily obtain pardon for crimes.

But the consequences of the battle affected all levels of society. Some of our records, like the petition, reflect the fates of the families of men who fell at Agincourt.

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