St. Crispin Day

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;"

William Shakespeare, (Henry V, St.Crispin Day speech)

The French village of Agincourt, now known as Azincourt, gives name to the battle that took place there between the English, led by Henry V, and the French, with a much larger and heavier armoured army at that time.

The French were totally defeated, in part because they had been so confident about their supremacy that the young English king seized the initiative. The Welsh longbow played an important part in the battle. As a result king Henry married the French princess Catherine of Valois and entered into legend. The battle was fought on the 25th of October of 1415, St. Crispin day, and was celebrated by Shakespeare with one great play.