Battlefield Detectives - Agincourt

(updated  31st August 2007)

Keywords: Battlefield detectives, battlefield analysis

In 2004 we ran a series of models of battlefields and consulted/presented this work on the Channel 4 series Battlefield Detectives. Some of that work is presented below. Click here for the work we did for the battle of Gettysburg.

To process the site for a crowd dynamics analysis we first create a lithograph of the contours.

Above - Lithograph of the area - above right - lines of sight from the high ground

We can see that there is a "funnel" from the initial French position. This area drops in width from 140 metres to 70 metres which would increase the density of the French Troops from 2 people per square metre (marching troops) to over 4 people per square metre and a subsequent drop in the advancing rate from 1.3 metres per second (normal walk) to less than 0.4 metres per second. Given that the front line of troops will fall to the English Archers the fallen French soldiers would create a barrier to further advances.

At the same time the rear of the French advance would be pushing forward into the funnel increasing density even further. This is characteristic of ALL of the major crowd disasters.

Below - illustration of a "funnel" effect on a crowd - note the high compression at the bottom left.

Agincourt - a "funnel" effect at the head of the French advance creates a high density crowd dynamics, reducing the rate of advance by more than 50%.

The diagram below shows the funnel effect (areas of high density are Green). Superimposing this model over the map of the area we can now see why the crowd dynamics of this battle were a major contribution to the downfall of the French.

To highlight this problem we've created a schematic of both the forces and their path of advance.

The French were paid by "booty" therefore their objectives were driven by reaching the enemy and robbing the corpses. The English were professional soldiers and did not have the same impetus to make a hasty attack.

As you can see the French advance suffers from a significant reduction in overall area available for the troops to march. If the initial number of soldiers were occupying an area of (approx.) 12200 square metres as shown on the left, then after 100 metres they are packed into 11000 square metres. This increases the density of the troops by 10%. A further advance of 100 metres reduces the area to 8800 square metres and increases the initial density by 60%. The next 100 metres reduces the area to 6500 square metres and increases the initial density by nearly 200%.

Doubling the density of the troops from 2 people per square metre to 4 people per square metre reduces the advancing speed by 70% as the troops cannot take whole paces forward.

The combination of increased density (people per square metre) and reduced forward speed coupled with falling troops from the English archers gives rise to a massive congestion on the front line. Troops pushing from the rear would further increase the density etc.

This is typical of the type of problem that has given rise to all of the major crowd disasters. The addition of a hostile environment could only have lead to a crushing defeat.

For further information about the use of computer simulations in the analysis and prevention of crowd disasters click here.