Henry V of England was born on 16 September 1386, the eldest son of Henry IV and Mary de Bohun. From an early age, he was introduced to the complexities of medieval politics and warfare. As a youth, he accompanied his father in the suppression of the Welsh rebellion under Owain Glyndŵr, and the complexities of his father's reign would have provided him an early education in rulership and governance.

His reign, which commenced in 1413 after the death of his father, is best remembered for the Hundred Years' War against France, particularly the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 where Henry's significantly outnumbered troops won a decisive victory against the French. This battle became emblematic of English valour, determination, and, from a military perspective, the efficacy of the longbow.

Henry's accomplishments are many. His military campaigns in France were largely successful, leading to the Treaty of Troyes in 1420, which recognized him as the heir to the French throne and led to his marriage to Catherine of Valois, the French king's daughter. Domestically, Henry worked hard to restore the majesty and authority of the monarchy, which had been somewhat depleted during his father's reign. He had a generally good relationship with the governing class and Parliament, primarily because he was able to fund much of his war through the territories he conquered rather than through taxation, reducing domestic economic pressures.

However, his reign wasn't without challenges. The Lollardy movement, a proto-Protestant religious group, grew in strength and number. Henry, a devout Catholic, perceived them as a significant threat and took measures against them, including the execution of Sir John Oldcastle, a former companion.

Henry's relationship with his family seems to have been quite formal. He had one child with Catherine, Henry, who would go on to become the ill-fated Henry VI. The young prince was only an infant when Henry V died, and the king's untimely demise would lead to a period of regency, which in turn would sow the seeds for the Wars of the Roses.

Henry V died suddenly on 31 August 1422, possibly from dysentery, though the exact cause remains a topic of debate. He was in his mid-30s. The English people viewed him as a hero-king, a perception amplified by his unexpected death. Many felt a genuine sense of loss, believing he was leading England into a golden age of prosperity and dominance in Europe.

Society during Henry's reign continued to evolve, with the English language asserting itself more prominently. This is best evidenced by Henry's own use of English in his correspondence and records, as well as the flourishing of English literature, the most notable being the works of writers like John Lydgate and Thomas Hoccleve. While the shadow of war loomed large, it was also a time when England's unique identity, separate from its continental neighbours, began to solidify in earnest.