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Was Henry V really DESTINED for greatness?

Was Henry V really DESTINED for greatness?

Dan Jones and Helen Castor focus in on the life of their third medieval monarch – the mighty warrior king, Henry V

Emily Briffett

Published: November 4, 2025 at 5:02 PM

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Henry V may have only reigned for a short period of time, but his legacy looms large over the medieval landscape.

Remembered as a heroic warrior king, who bested the French at Harfleur then marched his forces to victory at Agincourt, few monarchs could boast such a distinguished reputation. But 'Prince Hal' wasn't always destined for greatness. Was he really the gadabout youth Shakespeare would have us think? In the third episode of our three-part HistoryExtra podcast series 'Tyrant, Usurper, Hero', Helen Castor sits down with Dan Jones to uncover Henry's life beyond his most famous battles – and highlight what lessons he learned from the turbulent chaos caused by Richard II and Henry IV.

Watch now, or listen to the ad-free podcast below:

(Ad) Helen Castor is the author of The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV (Penguin, 2024).

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(Ad) Dan Jones is the author of Henry V: The Astonishing Rise of England's Greatest Warrior King (Bloomsbury, 2024).

Buy it now from Waterstones

Authors

Emily BriffettSenior content producer (podcasts)

Emily Briffett is senior content producer (podcasts) at HistoryExtra