A shipreck buried in the mud of the River Hamble near Southampton could be the Holigost, one of the "great ships" that were part of King Henry V's war fleet, Discovery News reported.
The announcement was made Monday by the heritage group Historic England, two weeks before the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt.
The 600-year-old ship was found just next to the Grace Dieu, the very own flagship of Henry V, which was discovered by a historian in the 1930s.
"To investigate a ship from this period close to the six hundredth anniversary is immensely exciting," Duncan Wilson, Historic England chief executive, said in a press release. "It holds the possibility of fascinating revelations in the months and years to come."
The shipwreck was first spotted by historian Ian Friel. He was out on a field work when the metal poles he was using hit something solid. A sonar reading confirmed that an object the shape of a ship was buried underneath, BBC Radio 4 reported.
The vessel was originally a Spanish ship that was captured and taken by England. It was given the name Holigost to signify Henry V's devotion to God.
The Holigost, which joined the royal fleet in November 1415, served from 1416 to 1420. It had a significant role in two battles that allowed Henry V to conquer France in the early 15th century. In the Battle of Harfleur, in 1416, the Holigost suffered serious damages as the flagship of the Duke of Bedford. The vessel was also part of the historic Battle at the Chef de Caux, in 1417.
Historic England said it will conduct future studies, such as sonar and aerial imaging, at the site of the wreck.
