Recent years have seen considerable advances made in the study of the reign of Henry V, and, consequently, in our understanding and appreciation of the man himself. If the events of the year 1415, which witnessed the king's first foray into France ending with the victory won at Agincourt, still claim headline status, there is a greater eagerness to view the ‘real’ Henry rather than a ‘creation’ of the historical past. Modern historical scholarship demands a more rounded, a more considered, certainly a more complex assessment of him. A better understanding of the king, his times, his policies and his achievements – never an easy task for a single scholar to attempt – can be gained through the shorter contributions offered by individual scholars. The chapters which follow, most of which were originally presented as papers at a small colloquium organized by the editor at the University of Nottingham in July 2011, should be seen as contributions towards a better appreciation of the career and rule of a remarkable king.

Henry's life may be divided into three broadly equal phases: from birth (in 1386) to becoming Prince of Wales (1399); as Prince of Wales (1399–1413); and, finally, as king of England (1413–22). It is important, therefore, that historians should not forget the first two ‘thirds’ of Henry's life, which made him twenty-six years old when he inherited the throne from his father, Henry IV.