1 NOBODY KNOWS WHEN HENRY V WAS BORN
Henry V was born at Monmouth Castle, perched high above the River Monnow, but there is no record of his birth – and even the year is uncertain. Some say his birthday was 9 August 1387, but an alternative date is 16 September 1386. The latter comes from a horoscope drawn up for the king and apparently commissioned by him just before the Agincourt campaign in 1415.
However, the French astrologer who drew the horoscope was later accused in Paris of being an English spy, and it is possible the work was just an excuse for the man to come to England and meet with Henry. The king apparently showed no interest in the horoscope afterwards.
2 HE ENJOYED A CLOSE BOND WITH RICHARD II
When his father, Henry Bolingbroke, was sent into exile in 1398, Henry was placed in the custody of Richard II. But rather than having his
