7. Justifications for Henry Bolingbroke becoming king Flashcards
How did Henry officially justify his seizure of the throne in his first parliament?
he simply stated that ‘I am
descended by right line of the blood from the good lord King
Henry the third, and through that right that God in his grace has
sent me, with the help of my kin and of my friends in recovering
it; which realm was at the point of ruin for lack of governance and
destruction of the good laws.’
What was deliberately vague
The reference to his royal lineage
was deliberately vague, as his credentials in this regard were shaky.
by right of primogeniture, who should have been king
Edmund Mortimer,
fifth earl of March was next in line to
the throne, as he was the great-grandson of King Edward Ill’s
eldest surviving son, Lionel of Antwerp
Mortimer’s claim was somewhat weakened by the fact
that he inherited through the female line, why was he still a threat?
there were precedents for
this type of inheritance on the continent
Why was the threat of the alternate heir lessened?
1399
Mortimer was only eight years old.
Why did many prefer to support Henry over the alternative heir?
many preferred to support Henry because he was an adult male, a proven warrior and had a substantial retinue, rather than entrust the fate of the nation to another child-king.
What in Henry’s parliamentary statement was a thinly veiled reference to his strong military support.
‘help of my kin and my friends’
What did Henry make kingship from 1399?
Henry made kingship legally conditional on competence
and military might.
Why was Mortimer still a threat even though he could not take an active role in rebellion because of his youth?
others would be willing to use him as a figurehead for revolt.
Why was Mortimer a particular risk?
the Mortimer family were one of the most powerful marcher families and had considerable support from Wales as they were descended from the 13th-century prince of Gwynedd.
Why was the Wales threat from Mortimer made worse
15th century, Wales was a hotbed of insurrection against the English crown.
How did Henry keep a close eye on the alternative heir
Made both Edmund and his brother Roger royal wards and ensuring they lived mainly at Windsor Castle.
In 1402, when the king went to fight in Wales, where were the youths moved to and who supervised?
Berkhamsted Castle and placed under the supervision of a loyal Lancastrian, Sir Hugh Waterton.
How did Henry moving the boys prove he was a leader with some foresight?
in the same year the boys’ uncle, Sir Edmund (IV) Mortimer, was captured by the Welsh prince and rebel leader Owain Glyndwr and he switched
his loyalty to the Welsh, in December, announcing that his nephew was in fact Richard Il’s rightful heir and that Henry IV had no claim to the throne.
