King Henry V was the son of Henry IV and ascended the throne upon his father’s death. He is known as one of the greatest of all English monarchs and a bane to the French existence. First, Henry V successfully seized the northwest French post, Harfluer. It was an uneven battle and so a massive victory, as the French outnumbered the English by thousands. It was a heady victory for the young king who was met with much fanfare after returning to London. He wasn’t done yet, though. In 1420, he returned to capture Normandy which resulted in the signing of the Treaty of Troyes, naming Henry the heir to the French throne. He celebrated by marrying the daughter of the then-King of France, Charles VI. Her name was Catherine, and she would bear Henry, a son soon to become King Henry VI (and soon to undo his father’s fine work). Henry V’s life was cut short in his mid-30s (struck down by dysentery).
