The Sea-Road to Agincourt and Conquest 1413-1422 In 1415, Henry V's English invasion force was carried across the Channel by 1500 ships and boats, eventually to fight at Agincourt. Henry V built the Jesus, the first ship of 1000 tons, followed by the Grace Dieu of 1400 tons. Why didn't the French stop him at sea? Henry V (1413-1422) conquered Normandy and forced the French king to accept him as heir to the French throne. The vital part played in these victories by English sailors and ships deserves to be better understood. Henry understood seapower and used it to clear the way for his two invasions of France. This book explores the story of the men, ships, operations and cutting-edge medieval technology of the English fleet, which included both the 'king's ships' and privately-owned vessels. Using the detailed records of Henry's ships, other rich documentary sources and archaeological evidence, Henry V's Navy reconstructs the story of one of England's most effective, but least remembered navies. This, it can be argued, is the beginning of England's dominance of the waves.

AUTHOR: Ian Friel is a historian and writer with an international reputation in maritime history and considerable knowledge of archaeology. He has studied medieval and Tudor maritime history for over 30 years and has published widely on these subjects. He has worked at the National Maritime Museum (NMM), the Mary Rose Trust and other museums. He was part of the archaeological investigation of Henry's massive flag ship the Grace Dieu. SELLING POINTS: * Original research using early 15th-century documents; the most detailed account of Henry's naval war ever compiled. * The first book to explore in detail the histories of Henry's individual ships. * Reconstructs both the passage of events in Henry's sea war and the nature of life as experienced by those involved in it. * Written by an acknowledged expert.

20 colour and 100 b/w illustrations.