The Ryen Russillo Podcast
‘Henry V: The Astonishing Triumph of England's Greatest Warrior King’ With Author Dan Jones
Tue, 18 Feb 2025
Russillo is joined by Dan Jones to learn more about his latest book: ‘Henry V.’ They cover the formation of the monarchy in England and Henry’s belief that he was destined to be king, then discuss how we look back at historical figures today (0:36). Plus, Life Advice with Ceruti and Kyle (43:53)! How do I tell my student teacher he smells like weed? Check us out on YouTube for exclusive clips, livestreams, and more at https://www.youtube.com/@RyenRussilloPodcast. The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Host: Ryen Russillo Guest: Dan Jones Producers: Steve Ceruti, Kyle Crichton, and Mike Wargon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Chapter 1: Who was Henry V and why is he significant?
Henry V is the book. Dan Jones is the author. A new book out right now. I enjoyed this one immensely. We'll get into some of the story of who Henry V was and the time that he was alive and everything that goes into it. I think it's going to be a lot of fun. And I hope you read the book, too, because we didn't even touch everything that went on.
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I've talked about it a few times on the pod, so I'm very excited to do this. Just finished up Henry V. Dan Jones, the author, joins us now. And I had some holes in my medieval game, Dan, so this was able to fill a bunch of these in. The battle between England and France, which again, I knew it was a little dicey. Didn't quite realize all of the moving pieces. So thanks for doing this. How are you?
Yeah, my pleasure. It's great to talk about it. Can we start with something where... I just wanted to understand Kings and the origin and the ruling and the accepted form of government. And, you know, around the time period, we're talking late 1300s, early 1400s for the premise of where we're at with the book.
But your background, your understanding of like how this became the way during these centuries that it was the accepted form of government leadership.
Yeah, well, I mean, the story of Henry V takes place across the late 14th, early 15th century. And by that point, nobody has really known in England any other form of government than a monarchy, a monarchy sort of limited and in some senses assisted, in some senses resisted by institutions, parliament.
councils of nobles and the church and so on but but monarchy is like age old at this point i mean you think about the regnal numbers of english kings we're talking about henry v richard ii henry iv these date back to a very specific time and that's the norman conquest of 1066 when william duke of normandy william the bastard as he became known william the conqueror came invaded England.
And from that point, kings are numbered one, two, three, according to the frequency of that name in the succession. There had been kings long before that as well. The great challenge prior to the Norman conquest had been to impose a single kingship on the whole of England. The great break of the Norman conquest is that
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Chapter 2: What led to the rise of the English monarchy?
He also sees that there are great economic advantages to having cause to make war on France, that there are great territorial concessions he can make if he goes to war with France. But I think he really does believe in a way that no one before him has wholeheartedly believed that he should be the king of France. And he's going to do anything within his power to stake that claim.
So in 1415, when he's been king for just over two years, he sets sail with a very, very big army, the biggest that had been taken out of England since his great-grandfather's day, to invade England. Normandy, so the duchy in northern France. And he invades at the mouth of the River Seine, a town called Harfleur.
And if anyone listening knows their Shakespeare, they'll be familiar with the siege of Harfleur, with cannon being deployed against the walls of this coastal town. Once more into the breach, dear friends, the great soliloquy comes from that part of the play. Henry spends a long time besieging this city and then successfully takes it. And that is a great victory.
It's the greatest victory in 1415 that the English had won against the French since 1347, sort of. 1356, let's say. But it was the greatest town they'd won since 1347 when they'd taken Calais. And it wins them this really, really useful bridgehead on the French coast. But Henry's feel, like that's not enough. And you see his psychology at the moment that he wins the siege at Arfleur.
It's late in the year 1415. It's too late to besiege any other cities. His men are very sick. There's a lot of dysentery and other diseases whipping around the camp. Lots of his friends have died of these diseases. They're running out of food. Everything says, you've won Arfleur. Secure it. Go home. Regroup. Come again. But Henry doesn't do that. He decides that he wants more.
He wants to show that he is the coming man and he should be the one to take the crown of France. So he sets off on what becomes an incredibly famous march. It's supposed to last a week. It ends up lasting several weeks. And it ends with him being hunted down by the French and forced to fight a battle.
25th of October, 1415, the Battle of Agincourt, at which he gambles effectively absolutely everything on the outcome of one afternoon's fighting.
Yeah, and Agincourt is basically where the legend... I mean, I know he's already king. I know he's already got the wins. But it's very clear that that increases the legend and increases support back home. And it's probably a massive motivating factor on what he expects upon his return. I also think it's important, too, because there's a couple things I still want to get to.
Understanding how France is... Not weak, but just susceptible to something like this, whether it's Charles VI, whether it's their factions. What is going on in France at this time, which makes them feel like they are prime to be targeted?
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