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Why did English archers place sharpened stakes in front of their positions at Agincourt?
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Henry V
English king Henry V, painting by an unknown artist; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
At the Battle of Agincourt, English archers drove sharpened stakes into the ground at an angle in front of their positions to defend against cavalry charges.1
This innovative defensive technique prevented the French knights from overwhelming the archers when they reached the English front lines. By creating this barrier, the archers were able to hold their ground effectively against the advancing mounted forces.1