Sir Thomas Erpingham

Sir Thomas Erpingham KG (c. 1355–1428) was an English knight who became famous as the commander of King Henry V's longbow wielding archers at the Battle of Agincourt. He was immortalised as a character in the play Henry V by William Shakespeare. It is, however, his lengthy and loyal service to John of Gaunt, Henry IV and Henry V, which contributed significantly to the establishment of the House of Lancaster upon the English throne, that is his true legacy.

Erpingham's career as a soldier led him to serve in France during the Hundred Years' War, in Spain, in Scotland against the Scots, in Prussia and The Holy Land, and spanned nearly 50 years. Beginning with his service in Aquitaine under the Black Prince in 1368 and concluding with his role at the Battle of Agincourt, his military career was linked with the Lancastrian Dynasty.

Thomas joined John of Gaunt's service in 1380 as an esquire, and was knighted by him. He followed Gaunt to Spain in pursuit of the throne of Castile. After becoming a retainer of Gaunt's, Erpingham served in the Scottish campaign of 1385, against the Duke of Brittany at the relief of Brest in 1385, he fought again in Spain in 1386. In 1390, he joined John of Gaunt's son Henry Bolingbroke, then simply Earl of Derby, on his crusade to Lithuania to fight with the Teutonic Knights.

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