Henry's Wars and Shakespeare's Laws: Perspectives on the Law of War in the Later Middle Ages

Shakespeare's Henry V has traditionally been acclaimed for its impressive depiction of the psychological and political impact of warfare, and it remains one of the most widely-discussed plays in the canon. In this highly original, scholarly, and thought-provoking study Professor Meron uses rare medieval ordinances and other medieval and Renaissance historical and legal sources to provide challenging new contexts for Shakespeare's famous play. The result is a gripping account of how Henry V and other `Histories' dramatically articulated complex medieval and Renaissance attitudes to warfare and the conduct of nations and individuals in time of war. The author uses the play and the campaign itself as a frame for the examination of the medieval laws of war, and examines stability and change in attitudes towards the laws of war.