Henry V and the Administration of Justice: The Surrender of Meaux, 1422

Paper presented at the 600th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF AGINCOURT CONFERENCE 2015War on Land and SeaFriday 31 July to Monday 3 August 2015The Treaty of Troyes laid the foundations of a new regime in France, 1420. The king of England was to become king of France after the death of his adoptive father Charles VI. He acted as a regent in the meantime and had for duty to subdue the rebels. The city and market of Meaux opposed a strong resistance to Henry V, in 1421/1422; it turned out to be the longest that the English king met on French territory. It was followed up by a harsh repression against the besieged. A recent contribution on the siege of Meaux presents Henry as both cruel and unjust in his retribution, further tarnishing the portrait of this controversial king. In this paper, I would like to scrutinise and replace this case-study within the broader normative framework of the time, engaging with the notions of honour, rebellion and crime, and devoting particular attention to four individuals for whom Henry preferred 'rigour of justice' rather than mercy