The first written English laws we know of are the Law of Æthelberht, issued by King Æthelberht of Kent around AD 602–616. Æthelberht was the powerful king of Kent, the southeastern corner of England, and was married to a Christian Frankish princess named Bertha. Under her influence and that of Saint Augustine (sent by Pope Gregory the Great to

The history of English law is a remarkable story of continuity and change spanning over a thousand years. It is a tapestry woven from the customs of tribal Anglo-Saxons, the iron hand of Norman conquerors, the medieval common law courts, and the sophisticated parliamentary statutes of modern Britain. But if we were to trace it all the way back—di

Modern archaeology and battlefield forensics have added fascinating layers to our understanding of Agincourt. Studies of skeletal remains and armor fragments recovered from the region confirm the intense close-quarters violence and the problems posed by the muddy terrain. Meanwhile, historians have sifted through administrative records, such as mus

In the short term, Agincourt greatly enhanced Henry V’s prestige. Over the next few years, he returned to France with larger armies, capturing important cities like Rouen and forcing the Treaty of Troyes in 1420. This treaty recognized Henry as heir to the French throne, marrying him to Catherine of Valois. However, Henry’s sudden death in 1