Was King Henry V REALLY a ‘warmonger’? Historian Dominic Sandbrook defends ‘hero’ fifteenth century monarch who received victory at Agincourt after he was referred to as ‘nasty’ by comic David Mitchell

• Mitchell was talking at Cheltenham Literature Competition to advertise new e book
• Comic insisted Henry was a ‘troublemaker’ and ‘not very civilised’ 

Comic David Mitchell prompted one thing of a stir on the weekend when he branded Battle of Agincourt victor King Henry V a ‘warmonger’ and ‘nasty’.

The star of hit sitcom Peep Present was talking at Cheltenham Literature Competition to advertise his new e book concerning the historical past of England’s kings and queens. 

Thanks partially to William Shakespeare’s play Henry V, the monarch’s victory over the numerically superior French at Agincourt in 1415 has turn out to be the stuff of legend. 

Mitchell nevertheless insisted Henry was a ‘troublemaker’ and ‘not very civilised’ in his want to take over France. 

However, writing in The Instances, historian Dominic Sandbrook referred to as Henry a ‘hero’ and stated he was a monarch who proved ‘formidably spectacular’ after coming to the throne on the age of 25 in 1413. 

On the battlefields at Agincourt, English troops led by Henry have been outnumbered by as much as six to 1 by a French military of 36,000 troopers.

However, regardless of the numerical superiority, the French slumped to defeat towards Henry and his 6,000 longbow archers, knights and men-at-arms.

The French additionally suffered issues with their armour which historians consider left them so exhausted they have been unable to struggle. 

Their armour additionally made it a lot tougher to advance throughout the fields of sticky mud. 

Mr Sandbrook stated it’s now ‘modern’ amongst youthful teachers to ‘shudder’ at Henry’s army ambitions. 

The historian pointed to how the director of a current manufacturing of Henry V on the Globe Theatre had referred to as the unique play the ‘pinnacle of English mythologising and white supremacy, and poisonous masculinity.’

He added that it’s ‘excessive time somebody stood up’ for the king. 

The creator additionally took problem with Mitchell’s declare that Henry’s exploits have been struggle crimes. 

‘In medieval Europe, struggle was a reality of life. Taking the battle to France was a smart method of shoring up help at dwelling, profitable respect overseas and bolstering nationwide safety,’ he wrote. 

He pointed to the ‘actual check’ of the view of Henry’s up to date Thomas Walsingham, who referred to as the king ‘far-seeing in counsel, prudent in judgment, modest in look [and] magnanimous in his actions.’ 

In keeping with the Telegraph, Mitchell had instructed his viewers: ‘I believe if there was misrepresentation it will be that Henry V was that terrific.’

Of his intention in taking up France, he added: ‘It’s a nasty factor to do, so I believe representing him as a nationalistic hero is misrepresenting him.’

Mitchell additionally stated Henry’s Home of Plantagenet was ‘obsessed’ with their ‘supposed rights to be kings of France’, however added: ‘By the requirements of our time, that’s simply warmongering.’ 

Mitchell was talking to advertise his new e book Unruly: A Historical past of Kings and Queens.

It paperwork the lives of English monarchs up till unification with Scotland in 1707.  

Henry was most just lately portrayed on display by Timothée Chalamet in 2019 movie The King. 

And Kenneth Branagh’s star flip because the monarch in his 1989 movie Henry V – an adaptation of Shakespeare’s play – was extremely praised by critics. 

The 1944 adaptation of the play was starred in and directed by Laurence Olivier.