Henry IV ruled England from 1399 until his death in 1413. His reign followed the deposition of Richard II and was dominated by the challenge of securing the Lancastrian dynasty while England faced rebellion at home and renewed pressure from France.
The Hundred Years War remained an important part of Henry’s reign. French policy was influenced by the instability of the English kingdom, while the wars in Wales and Scotland divided English military resources. By the end of Henry’s reign, relations with France had deteriorated and his son, Henry V, was preparing to renew the English claim to the French crown.
Henry IV and the Hundred Years War
Accession and the Lancastrian Kingship
Henry Bolingbroke seized the throne in 1399, overthrowing Richard II and becoming Henry IV. His accession created questions about the legitimacy of the Lancastrian succession which would have consequences for the English monarchy throughout the fifteenth century.
Securing the New Regime
Henry’s accession was followed by attempts to restore Richard II and challenge the new Lancastrian regime. The Epiphany Rising of 1400 demonstrated the continuing danger posed by Ricardian opposition.
Wales and French Intervention
The rebellion led by Owain Glyndŵr became one of the greatest challenges of Henry’s reign. The conflict also became part of the wider struggle between England and France. In 1404, French leaders considered sending an army to Wales to support the Welsh rebels against Henry IV, alongside plans for attacks on English possessions in France and efforts to secure an alliance with Scotland. The possibility of French military intervention demonstrated the extent to which Henry’s domestic difficulties could become part of the wider Hundred Years War.
Scotland and the Percies
Conflict with Scotland was closely connected to the Percy rebellions. The Percies had supported Henry’s seizure of the throne but later turned against him, with disputes over Scottish prisoners and the rewards of war contributing to the rebellion.
The Mortimer Claim
The Mortimer claim to the throne represented a continuing threat to the Lancastrian dynasty. Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March, was descended from Lionel, Duke of Clarence, and therefore had a stronger hereditary claim than the descendants of John of Gaunt according to primogeniture. His position became particularly important during the rebellions against Henry IV.
France and the End of the Truces
For much of Henry’s reign, the existing Anglo-French truces continued to limit open warfare. By 1404, however, French political leaders were preparing an ambitious renewal of the war against England. Their plans included campaigns against English possessions in Gascony, an assault on Calais and the sending of an army to Wales in support of the rebels against Henry IV. France also sought assistance from Scotland, Milan and Brittany. The scale of the proposed campaign demonstrated how Henry’s domestic difficulties had created an opportunity for France to reopen the wider conflict.
Henry IV and the Future Henry V
Henry’s later years saw his son, the future Henry V, increasingly involved in government and military affairs. Prince Henry fought against Owain Glyndŵr and played a major role in the victory at Shrewsbury in 1403, where Henry Percy was killed and the future king was seriously wounded. His experience during his father’s reign helped prepare him for the campaigns in France that would dominate his own reign.
- Henry V — SchoolHistory
- Battle of Bramham Moor
Dynastic Diplomacy and the Future Henry V
Diplomacy with France also involved attempts to arrange a marriage between Henry IV’s son, Prince Henry, and Catherine of Valois, daughter of Charles VI. Negotiations continued during the final years of Henry IV’s reign but failed to produce a settlement. The proposed marriage reflected the continuing importance of dynastic diplomacy alongside the threat of renewed war.
The Transition to Henry V
Henry IV died in 1413 and was succeeded by Henry V. The new king inherited a more secure Lancastrian regime but also the unresolved English claim to the French crown. Within two years Henry V had begun the campaign that would lead to the English victory at Agincourt.
Further Reading
- Christopher Phillpotts, The fate of the truce of Paris, 1396–1415, Journal of Medieval History, 24.1 (1998), pp. 61–80.