Agincourt Battlefield

Agincourt Battlefield near the town of Azincourt, France was the site of a fierce clash between English and French forces during the Hundred Years’ War.

Agincourt Battlefield history

On 25 October 1415, Saint Crispin’s Day, a small English army led by King Henry V faced a French force up to four times its size, determined expel the invaders. Yet, despite the numerical disadvantage, the English forces overcame the odds and won a famous victory, leaving Agincourt Battlefield littered with casualties.

One of the key factors involved in the English victory on Agincourt Battlefield was the quality of the English archers, whose decisive role would help to eliminate the threat from the heavily armoured French knights.

A more controversial aspect of the Battle of Agincourt was Henry V’s decision to slaughter the French prisoners. The main reason for this was that there were more prisoners than there were English soldiers to guard them, posing the threat that the prisoners would rise up against the English, however this has been a source of contention for centuries.

Agincourt Battlefield today

Agincourt Battlefield itself is mostly a grass covered area with no great marks of the long-ago fought battle. There is a small obelisk memorial at Agincourt Battlefield (pictured on the map) as well as several explanatory plaques.

For those wanting a history of Agincourt Battlefield and the battle itself, the Centre Historique Médiéval of Agincourt is a museum of French medieval history and does have exhibits about the Battle of Agincourt. It also offers audio guides for a tour of the battlefield or an English-speaking guide.

Getting to Agincourt Battlefield

If driving from the Calais Ferry or Channel Tunnel, take the E15 and head towards Paris.

Follow the L’Autoroute des Anglais E15/A26 for 11 miles then take the exit. At the end of the slip road turn right onto the D217, under the L’Autoroute des Anglais and then turn right onto the D943 towards Nordausques. Follow the D943 for 6.5 miles to a roundabout.

At the first roundabout take the first exit and continue on the D943 for another 2 miles to a second roundabout. At this roundabout take the second exit onto the Rocade Saint-Omar-Arques D942 and after 2 miles take the slip road to the D928, turn left onto the D928 at the junction.

Follow the D928 for 2.5 miles to a third roundabout at which you continue straight on, second exit. Follow the D928 under the L’Autoroute des Anglais E15/A26 to the fourth roundabout and continue straight on, second exit, remaining on the D928. After a furhter 0.75 miles continue straight on, second exit, at the fifth roundabout. A the sixth roundabout continue straight on, third exit, remaining on the D928 for a further 4.5 miles to the seventh roundabout. At the seventh roundabout continue straight on, second exit, for a further 2 miles to the eigth and final roundabout. At this roundabout continue straight on, second exit. After a further 1 mile turn left into Azincourt leaving the D928 on the Rue Charles VI and follow this road to the Agincourt Visitor’s Centre and Museum.

A good place to begin your visit to the Agincourt battlefield is the Agincourt Visitor’s Centre and Museum called the Centre Historique Médiéval Azincourt. The Agincourt museum has a carpark.