Siege of Harfleur, 19 August-22 September 1415

Henry V's first military action after resuming the Hundred Years War was the siege of Harfleur, an important town at the mouth of the river Seine. The town was well fortified, and was able to hold for six weeks, during which time Henry's army was weakened by dysentery. The battle of Agincourt occurred on Henry's march from Harfleur to Calais.
Siege Warfare during the Hundred Years War – Once More into the Breach, Peter Hoskins. Looks at the vast array of sieges of castles and towns during the Hundred Years War, a war most famous for a handful of English battlefield victories, but that was dominated by the siege, from Calais to Orleans. Looks at the nature of fortifications, how sieges were conducted (and how that changed during this period), and the rise of gunpowder artillery, and in particular the impressive French royal siege train, which helped blast away the English positions in Normandy and Aquitaine in surprisingly short period at the end of the war. (Read Full Review)
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See Also: Books on the Middle Ages - Subject Index: Hundred Years War

How to cite this article: Rickard, J. (29 August 2000), Siege of Harfleur, 19 August-22 September 1415, http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_harfleur.html

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