The English troops who routed the French at Agincourt were famously described by Shakespeare as ‘we happy few’.
But it appears they were fewer than anyone thought.
Researchers at the University of Southampton now believe that Henry V’s fleet comprised just 650 ships – less than half previous estimates of 1,500.
And the English and Welsh forces pulled off one of the most famous military victories despite being outnumbered by up to six to one by the French.
Happy Few who won at Agincourt were even fewer: New research finds number of ships carrying soldiers to battle was only 650 - less than half the previous estimate of 1,500
Researchers believe Henry V’s fleet at Agincourt comprised just 650 ships
Previous estimates led historians to believe 1,500 troops were in his fleet
English troops who routed French were famously described as 'we happy few'
By Colin Fernandez for the Daily Mail
28 July 2015
Daily Mail
The English troops who routed the French at Agincourt were famously described by Shakespeare as ‘we happy few’.
But it appears they were fewer than anyone thought.
Researchers at the University of Southampton now believe that Henry V’s fleet comprised just 650 ships – less than half previous estimates of 1,500.
Researchers at the University of Southampton now believe that Henry V’s fleet at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 (depicted above in engraving) comprised of just 650 ships – less than half previous estimates of 1,500
And the English and Welsh forces pulled off one of the most famous military victories despite being outnumbered by up to six to one by the French.
Dr Craig Lambert is to present his research at a conference held later this month as the 600th anniversary of the battle nears.
Based on exchequer rolls held at the National Archives in Kew, West London, Dr Lambert uncovered the true extent of the naval force sent to France in a paper to be presented at a conference on the battle, War on Land and Sea.
Records show Henry hired ships from Holland, and ordered that all ships over 20 tons in England be commandeered. Lambert calculated the size of the fleet by looking at records of payments made for ship hire.
Dr Lambert said: ‘Historians have largely ignored the maritime operations for the transfer of Henry’s army, with the story of Agincourt dominated by analyses of the campaign and the battle.
‘I wanted to give a clearer picture of the process of transporting the troops and the scale of the operation involved.’
As well as transporting Henry’s knights, horses and infantry to France, the naval force was used to protect the English coast from a French counter attack and to transport the wounded home.
The bulk of the fleet was also comprised of English ships, contrary to previous claims that foreign vessels predominated.
Two months before the battle, Henry’s fleet left the Solent on August 11, 1415 before heading to Chef de Caux – near modern day Le Havre. Around 12,000 men and 20,000 horses were estimated to have been on board including the King himself, who was on board the Trinite Royale.
The discovery was made by researchers at the University of Southampton (pictured) and Dr Craig Lambert is to present his findings at a conference held later this month as the 600th anniversary of the battle nears
The claim that 1,500 ships was used was made by the St Albans chronicler in the ‘Deeds of Henry the Fifth’.
In Shakespeare’s play, the English fleet is described as ‘a city on the inconstant billows dancing / For so appears this fleet majestical’.
When he rallies his troops, Henry describes them as ‘we happy few, we band of brothers’ – a description that has resonated down the ages.
In World War II, ‘the few’ was used by Winston Churchill to describe the Spitfire pilots in the Battle of Britain.
The English military success at Agincourt has been attributed to the superiority of Henry’s longbowmen over the French, who used crossbows, and the fact that the heavier armour used by the French tired them out.
Read more: Happy Few who won at Agincourt was even fewer | Daily Mail Online
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But it appears they were fewer than anyone thought.
Researchers at the University of Southampton now believe that Henry V’s fleet comprised just 650 ships – less than half previous estimates of 1,500.
And the English and Welsh forces pulled off one of the most famous military victories despite being outnumbered by up to six to one by the French.
Happy Few who won at Agincourt were even fewer: New research finds number of ships carrying soldiers to battle was only 650 - less than half the previous estimate of 1,500
Researchers believe Henry V’s fleet at Agincourt comprised just 650 ships
Previous estimates led historians to believe 1,500 troops were in his fleet
English troops who routed French were famously described as 'we happy few'
By Colin Fernandez for the Daily Mail
28 July 2015
Daily Mail
The English troops who routed the French at Agincourt were famously described by Shakespeare as ‘we happy few’.
But it appears they were fewer than anyone thought.
Researchers at the University of Southampton now believe that Henry V’s fleet comprised just 650 ships – less than half previous estimates of 1,500.
Researchers at the University of Southampton now believe that Henry V’s fleet at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 (depicted above in engraving) comprised of just 650 ships – less than half previous estimates of 1,500
And the English and Welsh forces pulled off one of the most famous military victories despite being outnumbered by up to six to one by the French.
Dr Craig Lambert is to present his research at a conference held later this month as the 600th anniversary of the battle nears.
Based on exchequer rolls held at the National Archives in Kew, West London, Dr Lambert uncovered the true extent of the naval force sent to France in a paper to be presented at a conference on the battle, War on Land and Sea.
Records show Henry hired ships from Holland, and ordered that all ships over 20 tons in England be commandeered. Lambert calculated the size of the fleet by looking at records of payments made for ship hire.
Dr Lambert said: ‘Historians have largely ignored the maritime operations for the transfer of Henry’s army, with the story of Agincourt dominated by analyses of the campaign and the battle.
‘I wanted to give a clearer picture of the process of transporting the troops and the scale of the operation involved.’
As well as transporting Henry’s knights, horses and infantry to France, the naval force was used to protect the English coast from a French counter attack and to transport the wounded home.
The bulk of the fleet was also comprised of English ships, contrary to previous claims that foreign vessels predominated.
Two months before the battle, Henry’s fleet left the Solent on August 11, 1415 before heading to Chef de Caux – near modern day Le Havre. Around 12,000 men and 20,000 horses were estimated to have been on board including the King himself, who was on board the Trinite Royale.
The discovery was made by researchers at the University of Southampton (pictured) and Dr Craig Lambert is to present his findings at a conference held later this month as the 600th anniversary of the battle nears
The claim that 1,500 ships was used was made by the St Albans chronicler in the ‘Deeds of Henry the Fifth’.
In Shakespeare’s play, the English fleet is described as ‘a city on the inconstant billows dancing / For so appears this fleet majestical’.
When he rallies his troops, Henry describes them as ‘we happy few, we band of brothers’ – a description that has resonated down the ages.
In World War II, ‘the few’ was used by Winston Churchill to describe the Spitfire pilots in the Battle of Britain.
The English military success at Agincourt has been attributed to the superiority of Henry’s longbowmen over the French, who used crossbows, and the fact that the heavier armour used by the French tired them out.
Read more: Happy Few who won at Agincourt was even fewer | Daily Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook