9th April: Coronation of Henry V

On this date in 1413, England’s warrior king, Henry V, 25, was crowned in Westminster. Here's the low down on him:

1. We know where Henry V was born (in the tower above the gatehouse of Monmouth Castle, Monmouth, Principality of Wales), and that he was the son of Henry of Bolingbroke (later Henry IV of England), and Mary de Bohun, who was just sixteen. What we don't know for sure is the date. When he was born, Henry wasn't in line to the throne and so nobody bothered to record his birthdate. Historians have made educated guesses at 9 August 1387,or 16 September 1386. Evidence for the latter is a horoscope drawn up for him just before the Agincourt campaign. Whether the king actually wanted a horoscope, or if it was simply an excuse for the astrologer, actually a spy, to come and report to the king about what was going on in France, we'll probably never know.
2. Richard II was like a second father to Henry. When Henry of Bolingbroke was exiled, young Henry was taken hostage by Richard, but unlike many monarchs of years gone by would have done, Richard didn't have him killed and was actually kind to the boy. He mentored him, took him to Ireland and even knighted him. Even when Henry of Bolingbroke attempted to seize the crown, Richard still treated young Henry well. Henry, when sent for by his father after overthrowing Richard, went to visit Richard in the Tower first and had to be persuaded by Richard to obey his father. When Henry himself became king he had Richard’s body exhumed from its obscure grave and reburied in Westminster Abbey.
3. He first led an army into battle at the age of sixteen, against Owain Glyndŵr, and as part of his father's command against Henry Percy at the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403. Henry was almost killed in this battle when he was shot in the face with an arrow. He was luckier than Harold at the Battle of Hastings. The arrow missed his eye, Brain and spinal chord but was nevertheless stuck in the bone at the back of his Skull. As the prince, he was afforded the best care possible. His doctors designed and made special tongs to remove it. Without anaesthetic. The wound took several weeks to heal and Henry was scarred for life.
4. So aside from the scars, what did he look like? Contemporary writings describe him as tall and slim (he was 6' 3") with dark hair which he wore cropped above his ears. He had a ruddy complexion and a prominent nose. His eyes "flashed from the mildness of a dove's to the brilliance of a Lion's", depending on what kind of mood he was in.
5. Legend has it that Henry had a riotous youth, reflected in Shakespeare's play about him. However, we know Henry was involved in politics and wars, even as a teenager, so it may be this tradition is no more than rumours put about by his political opponents.
6. It snowed heavily on the day of his coronation in April 1413 at Westminster Abbey. People weren't sure whether this was a bad omen or a good one.
7. Henry continued the war with France that his father was involved in, the Hundred Years' War, which had been started by his great grandfather Edward III. There is a legend that England's claim to the throne of France, which was what the war was all about, was the result of a curse put on Philippe IV of France seized the property of the wealthy Order of Knights Templar and tortured an killed members of the order. The last Grand Master of the Order cursed Philippe as he died, saying the king would die within a year. Eight months later Philippe died in a hunting accident. After this, all Philippe's direct male descendants died prematurely over the next twelve years, leading to a succession crisis. Edward III was the son of Philippe's daughter and therefore thought he should be King of France, but Philippe de Valois, a cousin of the last king [Charles IV], was crowned instead. So Edward started the Hundred Years' War.
8. If not for Henry V, MPs might still be speaking French in Parliament. It was Henry who promoted the use of the English language in government. He was also the first king for 350 years to use English in his personal correspondence.
9. Henry's wife was Catherine of Valois, daughter of Charles VI of France and younger sister of the widow of Richard II, Isabella of Valois. They had one child - Henry VI.
10. Henry died in 1422 of dysentery, Which he probably contracted due to unsanitary conditions during the siege of Meaux. He was 36 years old. Henry V was buried in Westminster Abbey.

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