Today in 1415, Henry V's sick and starving army of archers defeated the flower of French chivalry in the mud of Agincourt. It was a catastrophic defeat for France The French led by Constable of France Charles d'Albret had an army of about 14,000 to 15,000. King Henry V's forces numbered about 6,000 to 8,000 men. Outnumbering the English about 2 to 1. The English men-at-arms wearing plate and mail armor stood shoulder to shoulder four men deep. On the flanks of the army the English and Welsh archers would be ordered by King Henry to carve wooden stakes, one for each man. The days leading up to the battle were characterized by heavy rains, turning the recently plowed fields of Agincourt into a muddy, soggy mess. French cavalry charged towards the English archers. Unable to charge through the stakes and unable to outflank the archers, the attempt was a disaster and many of the cavalry's horses were cut down by arrows causing disarray. The heavy plate armor of the French knights and men-at-arms allowed them to advance while under fire. The French monk of Saint Denis described it as a "terrifying hail of arrow shot". It is suggested that many French soldiers died by suffocating in their armor or even drowning in the muddy field. The fighting lasted three hours. King Henry fought hand to hand according to English contemporary accounts. Charles d'Albret, Constable of France would be killed in battle, along with John I, Duke of Alençon. About 600 English soldiers would die and about 6,000 French would die, many of which were nobles. A massive English victory for Henry.