100th entry

I've been told that it is customary for the 100th blog entry to be something special. In preparation, I went and reread some of my previous entry. I really did wrestle with this, wanting to hold to this custom. I thought about looking back at my first entry. I also considered looking at my most viewed. I also considered a synopsis of my entries.

In the end, I thought I would tell a story.

In 1415, the French and English were at war. It was known as the Hundred Years War. At the time, England had territories in what is modern day France. They continually battled over there territories. Following a failed negotiation, England, led by King Henry V, invaded Normany. They besieged Harfleur. From February until September, they surrounded the city. Though they did take the city, the English lost as many soldiers to dysentery as battle.

The English were forced to flee when the french roused an army. They marched across Normandy toward the port of Calais, where they could rest safely or even flee to England proper. The french blocked their crossing of the River Somme, forcing them south. With further delay from carrying so many diseased soldiers, they were eventually surrounded near Agincourt.

Henry V camped with his troops at one end of a wheat field, with woods flanking on either side. His forces were outnumbered six to one. The French has approximately 36,000, most of whom were professional soldiers. This was the feudal age, when the Knight was the top soldier. They had both calvary, the deadliest of soldiers, and ground troops. Both were equiped with mail, made of little metal links woven together and covered with plate of armor, making the wearer nearly invincible. They also carried longswords and the cavalry had hand carved lances, each of which took nearly a year to produce. These were the special forces, tanks, and and bombers of their day all in one package. They were the deadliest soldiers on earth.

In contrast, Henry V left the bulk of his army at home. Instead, he brought a civilian force. In the feudal age, the lords, the landowners, were the professional soldiers. They believed that their position gave them the responsibility to defend those under them, so they were the soldiers. It was even illegal for a non-noble to possess a sword. King Henry V brought men of the Yoeman (middle) class. These civilians were taught to use the longbow, knife, and stave. The longbow arrows were redesigned with a square tip that could pierce armor. The staves where wooden posts, sharpened at both ends, which they would hammer into the ground. These would halt a calvary charge by impaling the horses. The knives were a last resort. If a knight approached, they would divide into teams of three to try to tackle the knight and either go for weak points or cut the leather straps holding on the plate armor. When outnumbered six to one, require three to one to get a single kill is not ideal.

To make it worse, as the sun set, it began to rain. Imagine being sick, cold, away from home for most of a year, and it starts to rain. You know shortly after dawn you will be fighting for survival. They could hear the laughter of French soldiers laughing, taunting, even pointing out which people they will kill. It was the longest most terrifying night of thier lives.

In walks King Henry the Fifth, walking through the camp to speak to his men. Shakespeare recorded his words like this. (edited)

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother...

And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap..."

This quote has been used to describe the famous 101st Airbourne Easy Company during WWII, nicknamed Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose. The reason this quote was especially meaningful is because of who spoke it. This wasn't a friend. It wasn't a coworker. This was the king. He was a man of noble blood, whom they believed God had given the divine right to rule both England and France. Royalty called them brother, and thereby equal. Royalty called commoners brother.

With this in mind, they slept the night. They bravery lined up for battle. In this day, the king, waited in the back were he would be safest. Henry put on his battle crown (a helmet with a crown welded to it) and lined up the middle almost challenging the french to target him instead of his brothers. And they waited. And waited. The french lined up and started taunting. Henry bravely ordered a charge. As the French watch, the archers pulled their staves marched forward, and drove them back into the ground. Then they calmly pulled their bows, and now in range, began firing.

The French, of course, began their charge now that they were taking casualties. Here's what they didn't count on. With the rain, the heavy armor and heavy horses sunk in the mud. They were sitting ducks. The french took heavy losses, though they also inflicted some.

Henry's actual brother was killed, and the french tried to haul off the body to desecrate it. Henry ended up leaving the lines, planting a foot on his brother's carcass, and fighting off the French. This act also was an unexpected blessing, because his whole army could see him fighting, boosting their moral. Eventually the English won the day.

This story means a lot to me. It is not just the age of chivalry, but also speaks of equality for all mankind for the first time in that age. This is a powerful story. For me personally, it reminds me that the King of Kings came to fight alongside me, going out in front, and because of Him I can stand and fight. Despite seemingly overwhelming odds, my band of brothers will have the victory.