Summary

In October 1415, King Henry V defeated the French in a famous battle at Agincourt. Wars in France had begun decades before when the mental illness of the French King Charles VI created a power vacuum. With the French divided into two factions (Armagnac and Burgundian), English kings saw an opportunity to stake their claim to the French crown. Henry V's victory at Agincourt was a turning point that eventually led to the Treaty of Troyes in May 1420. The Burgundian faction allied with the English, disinheriting Charles VI's son and agreeing that Henry V would be king of France after the death of Charles VI. To seal the agreement, Henry V was married to Charles VI's daughter, Catherine of Valois. An important and powerful ally to these royal families was Duke Phillippe of Burgundy who had a hatred of Charles VI's son (also named...