Mentioned several times in a 1599 play, this patron saint of cobblers had a feast day that coincided with the Battle of Agincourt
The Final Jeopardy clue for Friday, February 13, 2026, appeared in the category “Saints” and read: “Mentioned several times in a 1599 play, this patron saint of cobblers had a feast day that coincided with the Battle of Agincourt.” The correct response was: “Who was St. Crispin?” The clue drew together literature, medieval history, and Christian hagiography, requiring contestants to connect a Shakespearean reference with a well-known date in English history and the traditions surrounding a lesser-known but historically significant saint.
Who was St. Crispin?
St. Crispin, often commemorated alongside his twin brother St. Crispinian, is traditionally regarded as a third-century Christian martyr. According to early accounts, the brothers were missionaries who traveled to Roman Gaul and supported themselves by making shoes while preaching Christianity. Their association with shoemaking led to their enduring designation as patron saints of cobblers, tanners, and leather workers.
The brothers were said to have been executed during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. Over time, their story became embedded in medieval Christian devotion, especially in France and England. Churches and guilds dedicated to St. Crispin emerged across Europe, reflecting the saint’s importance within craft traditions. The feast day honoring St. Crispin and St. Crispinian is October 25, a date that would later acquire historical significance beyond religious observance.
The Battle of Agincourt and Its Date
The Battle of Agincourt took place on October 25, 1415, during the Hundred Years’ War between England and France. King Henry V of England led his forces against a much larger French army near the village of Agincourt in northern France. Despite being heavily outnumbered and fatigued after a prolonged campaign, the English secured a decisive victory.
The battle became one of the most celebrated military achievements in English history. Chroniclers and later historians emphasized the effectiveness of the English longbow and the tactical disadvantages faced by the French. Because the battle occurred on October 25, it coincided precisely with the feast day of St. Crispin and St. Crispinian, permanently linking the saints’ commemoration with this pivotal event.
Shakespeare’s 1599 Play and the “St. Crispin’s Day” Speech
The 1599 play referenced in the clue is William Shakespeare’s “Henry V.” In Act IV, Scene III, Shakespeare includes what has become known as the “St. Crispin’s Day” speech. Delivered by King Henry V to his troops before the Battle of Agincourt, the speech invokes the feast day directly and frames the coming fight as a moment that will be remembered annually.
In the speech, Henry declares that those who survive the battle will recall “Saint Crispin’s day” with pride. The repeated mention of the saint’s name reinforces the connection between the religious calendar and the historical event. Shakespeare’s dramatization cemented the association in the cultural imagination, making St. Crispin inseparable from the story of Agincourt in English literature.
Why St. Crispin Is the Correct Response
The clue required knowledge across multiple domains. First, it identified a saint connected to cobblers, narrowing the field to St. Crispin. Second, it referenced a 1599 play in which the saint is mentioned several times, pointing directly to Shakespeare’s “Henry V.” Finally, it noted that the saint’s feast day coincided with the Battle of Agincourt, which occurred on October 25, the traditional feast day of St. Crispin.
Taken together, these elements uniquely identify St. Crispin. While St. Crispinian shares the feast day and patronage, Shakespeare’s speech and most historical references commonly use the singular name “St. Crispin.” Therefore, in Jeopardy format, the correct response was: “Who was St. Crispin?”