The Shakespeare Connection
William Shakespeare’s Henry V is a tragedy that’s classified as an historical play because it is based on true events including the Battle of Agincourt, 1415. Most people love a great underdog story and Shakespeare immortalized this battle in his play. My ancestor, Roger Vaughan, played an important role in the real battle.
Henry V, better known as Harry, decided to invade France. When they got to Agincourt, the English were greatly outnumbered. They were also sick, tired, and starving. According to www.history.com/news/9-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-battle-of-agincourt, “Fearing an ambush by his much larger enemy, Henry V kept discipline in his ranks by demanding that his troops pass the night of October 24 in absolute silence. Men-at-arms and knights were warned that disobeying the order would cost them their horse and harness. The lower rank, meanwhile, were threatened with the loss of their right ear.”
Roger Vaughan, his son Roger, and his father-in-law, Dafydd Gam, were part of the loyal Welsh contingent that supported and fought for Harry. When the Battle of Agincourt began, “sixteen French knights who had taken a solemn oath to do what was necessary to seize Henry V” knocked Harry off his horse. It appeared that he was facing certain death at the hands of these knights. The heroic and gallant Welsh soldiers refused to let that happen. They put their own lives on the line, fighting valiantly to save their king, and took down the sixteen knights. Tragically, Roger Vaughan and Dafydd Gam did not survive and died on the battlefield defending King Henry V. Legend has it that “upon saving the life of Henry V at the expense of their own lives, both men were knighted by the king on the battlefield before they died.” And that is how I came to be related to a knight. www.ancestors.familysearch.org/en/9CDD-7K7/sir-roger-vaughan-of-bredwardine-1377-1415
(I wrote about Roger’s son, Watkin in my post on May 8, 2021. The theme that week was Crime and Punishment and my post was titled, Family Justice. This was another tragedy; Watkin was murdered – shot through the heart with an arrow on Easter, 1456.)