Table of Contents

The legal environment; the war of rights - just war, jus ad bellum and jus in bello; declarations of war and truce agreements; responsibility of princes; the siege of Harfleur and treatment of occupied territory - the limits of protection - at the walls of Harfleur, mercy, hostages, Harfleur's surrender, deporting the French and settling the English, sack and massacre, privileged categories of inhabitants and Henry's ordinances, lost of privileged status - women and clergy, treatment of cities conquered after siege, treatment of commanders who surrendered to adversaries, denials of quarter, rape of women, pillage and Church property, compelling obedience by destruction, Henry's proscriptions and the Medieval army; Henry's challenge to the Dauphin - the duel that never was and games of chivalry; Medieval and Renaissance ordinances of war - codifying discipline and humanity, Agincourt - prisoners of war, reprisals and necessity; heralds, ambassadors and the Treaty of Troyes; rebels.

Reviews

`Impressively realized ... he makes a refreshing contribution to the `conflicted arena' (is that the phrase ?) of Shakespeare studies.'
The Times Literary Supplement
`fascinating and scholarly book'
International and Comparative Law Quarterly
`there is no doubt that the depth of Meron's research, and his knowledge of medieval law, is both clear and impressive. Each chapter is rich in detail ... he provides numerous comparable examples from various contemporary medieval chronicles'
The Journal of Legal History
`An ambitious study of the law of war at the time of Henry V's Agincourt campaign ... much of the book is extremely clear and literally bursting with information concerning the laws of war in the fifteenth century ... Heavily researched and rife with detailed footnotes, this sometimes challenging work is an authoritative text which should remain a standard in the field of late medieval international law for some time to come.'
Military History
`'It is thought-provoking...the conclusions are important and well-sustained.''
Nottingham Medieval Studies XL
`'The book is likely to be of interest to the historian of war in the late Middle Ages, as well as to the student of the development of international law.''
English Historical Review
'It is never too late to write about an extraordinary book, such as the one authored by Theodore Meron ... what makes this book both extremely valuable as a piece of scholarly writing and an exciting reading for everybody is not only the topic - Shakespeare and the laws of war - but also the style.'
'Meron has explored the historical field very thoroughly, and the footnoting of the book is an undeniable prove... Meron masters his material with both scholarly strength and the charm of an essay writer... Meron's book is a milestone in both Shakespearean exegesis and the study of the law of war.'