Exploring the Logistics, Funding, and Significance of English Archery in 1415

The Battle of Agincourt, fought on October 25, 1415, remains one of the most iconic military engagements of the Hundred Years' War between England and France. Famous for the dramatic and decisive victory of the outnumbered English army under King Henry V against the French forces, the battle’s legacy has been immortalized in literature, art, and popular culture. One of the most crucial elements that contributed to the English triumph was their deployment of the longbow and the massive volley of arrows unleashed upon the French knights.

But behind the roaring volleys of arrows lay a complex web of logistics and financing that made this possible. Who actually paid for these arrows? How was the archery force equipped and sustained? This article delves deep into the economic, administrative, and military structures that enabled England to supply its archers at Agincourt, shedding light on medieval warfare’s often overlooked but critical logistical side.

Context: The Battle of Agincourt and the Role of Archery

To understand the question of funding, one must first appreciate the role of the English longbowmen at Agincourt.

King Henry V landed in Normandy in August 1415 with an army estimated at around 6,000 men, many of whom were archers. The French army was significantly larger, possibly 20,000 to 30,000 strong, including heavily armored knights and men-at-arms. The battlefield was narrow and muddy, conditions that favored the lighter English troops.

The English longbow was a formidable weapon. Its rate of fire, range, and penetrating power allowed English archers to disrupt and decimate the advancing French cavalry and infantry before they could engage in close combat. The massed volleys of arrows played a decisive role in breaking the French assault, contributing to the stunning English victory.

The effectiveness of the longbow depended not only on the skill of the archers but also on the availability of sufficient arrows. Supplying thousands of archers with hundreds of arrows each required meticulous planning and financing. shutdown123