In 1422, two pivotal monarchs died within weeks of each other: Henry V of England on August 31 at age 35, likely from dysentery while campaigning in France, and Charles VI of France on October 21. Henry V's successes in the Hundred Years' War, including the Treaty of Troyes, had positioned his infant son Henry VI as heir to both thrones. This double succession created a dual monarchy under a child king, with regents governing amid ongoing conflict. The event intensified the power struggles in England and France, setting the stage for continued warfare and shifting alliances that defined mid-15th century Europe.

The fragile dual monarchy and regency under Henry VI profoundly influenced English and French literary culture during the late medieval period. Chroniclers like Enguerrand de Monstrelet documented these royal deaths and the ensuing instability, feeding into chivalric romances and war poetry that reflected themes of loss, legitimacy, and national identity. In England, the uncertain reign inspired ballads and works lamenting the burdens of kingship, while in France, it contributed to narratives of resilience that later echoed in Renaissance humanist writings. Poets navigating court patronage grappled with the political vacuum, using verse to comment on power, mortality, and the human cost of war.