Henry IV Flashcards
What was going to be difficult for Henry IV?
Keeping the crown
What did Henry do at the first parliament of his reign?
Claimed that Richard had voluntarily resigned the throne when a delegation of nobles had approach him
What was more likely than the voluntary abdication?
Forced abdication
What was a serious issue for Henry’s stability?
Widespread knowledge of a forced abdication
What was important for Henry’s takeover?
The new regime carefully managed and legally supported the takeover
Who argued that the new Lancastrian regime justified Henry’s seizure?
Adam of Usk
What things had Richard done that justified the usurpation?
Immoral rule, sacrilege, perjury, sodomy, incompetence, lack of ability and greed.
How many accusations were read against Richard?
39
What was the accusation in terms of taxation?
Weighty and unnecessary - not for the common good but personal advantage.
What was the issue of the Lord Appellants?
Emphasis on the fact that he pardoned the offences but continued to have resentment - actions of 1397.
What was the issue with the Cheshire retinue?
Richard did nothing to restrain them despite complaints.
What was the issue with the exile of Bolingbroke?
It was unjust and unmerciful
What was the issue with royal intervention in the selection of local officers?
Changing oaths to make them more accountable to the king.
What did Richard do in terms of the courts?
Requiring financial payments and interfering in cases in the ecclesiastical courts.
What did Richard do to make money?
Make false accusations of treason
What did Richard ignore?
Advice of council - arrogant - rebuking and reprimanding nobles
What did he do with the crown jewels?
Took them to Ireland
What did Richard do with land?
Seizing subject’s land without good reason and imprisoning them without fair trial.
What was the general view towards Richard?
He was so changeable that no one could trust him
What did the usurpation challenge?
The idea that kings were ordained by God
What was the issue with the usurpation?
Established the precedence that king’s conduct was open to criticism and judgement
What did the usurpation demonstrate to nobles?
Unpopular kings could be ousted by an overmighty subject with enough military support.
Who was more entitle than Henry?
Edmund Mortimer
What weakened Mortimer’s claim?
Inheriting Ed III’s blood through a WOMAN
How old was Mortimer?
8
Why did many prefer Henry?
Adult male, proven warrior, substantial retinue - people didn’t want another minority king.
When was Henry crowned?
13th October 1399
What did Henry ensure?
Prince Hal was Prince of Wales to secure the succession
What did Henry revoke?
Decisions taken by the 1397-98 parliament and restoring those of 1386.
What did Henry promise?
The Duchy of Lancaster - live off his own
What was living off his own hint to?
Richard’s frequent requests for taxation and recognition of parliament’s frequent criticism of royal expenditure.
What did Henry show that was a contrast to Richard?
Clemency to Richard’s supporters - Richard had a lack of mercy
When was the Epiphany uprising?
January 1400
Who was at the head of the Epiphany uprising?
Huntingdon, Kent and Salisbury and Despenser
What was the aim of the Epiphany uprising?
Murder Henry and his sons during the Christmas revelry at Windsor
Why did the Epiphany uprising fail?
Henry was forewarned and had time to escape with his family to London.
What happened to the rebels?
Killed by local people before they could be found and executed
What did the uprising show?
Criticisms of Richard were genuine and there was widespread dislike
Where was Richard imprisoned?
Pontefract Castle
What was the issue with Richard being alive?
There could be more rebellions with him at the centre
When was Richard dead?
Feb 1400
What was the claim about his death?
Suicide
What was the more likely cause of death?
Murdered on Henry’s orders
Why did Henry publicise Richard’s death?
Prevent pretenders causing unrest by claiming the throne
Where was the body taken?
London - face displayed to stop the idea of substitution
Why were the so many issues at the beginning of his reign?
Legally dubious nature of his claim to the throe.
How did Henry overcome the issues?
Political skill and ruthlessness - aided by how bang average Richard was
Who told on the rebels?
Earl of Rutland told the Duke of York
What did some people believe uncovered the plot?
Esquire slept with a harlot
What other rebels were there?
Sir Benedict Cely, Sir Thomas Blount of Oxfordshire and the deposed Archbishop of Cantertbury
Why did the rebels uprise>
They had suffered the most from Henry taking the throne
What did Henry try to do?
Seek peace with Scotland
Why did Scotland not want peace?
Didn’t recognise Henry as a usurper
How many troops did Henry raise?
15,000
Who was the leader of the Welsh rebellion?
Owain Glyndwr
When did the issues start with Wales?
15th Century
What connections did Owain have?
Marriage connections to Anglo Welsh families
What happened in September 1400?
Glyndwr led a rebellion beginning at Glyndyfrdwy
What did Glyndwr become after September 1400?
Prince of Wales
What did Owain plan to do?
Murder Henry IV and destroy the Lancastrian regime
Obliteration of the English Language in Wales
What land did Owain burn down?
Ruthin - part of Lord Grey’s territory
What happened to Owain’s troops?
Overwhelmed by Hugh Burnell’s troops
Where was Henry while this was happening?
In North - dealing with the Scots
Who was left in charge of Wales?
Prince Hal and Henry Hotspur
What tactics did the Welsh use?
Guerrilla tactics - threat mounting
What happened in 1401?
Welsh origins left to Wales to prepare for War - labourers and students and Oxbridge
When did Henry return to Wales?
Summer/autumn 1401 - Owain didn’t want a scrap
What happened in 1402?
Edmund Mortimer IV (uncle to earl of march - alternative heir to Richard) captured by Glyndwr
What did Mortimer do?
Switch sides to support the Welsh - claimed his nephew was the rightful king
What did parliament do in September 1402?
Enacted a series of statutes forbidding the sale of food or armour to Wales and prohibited public meetings, the bearing of arms, the keeping of castles or the holding of office by Welsh men or those married to Welsh women
What did Lady Despenser do in Feb 1405?
Plot to seize Mortimer boys - break them out to join with a small force - nothing happens but it happens so close to Glyndwr.
When was the tripartite indenture?
1405
What was the Tripartite Indenture?
Agree that Glyndwr will have Wales - Mortimers have most of England and the Percies have the North - threat - doesn’t come to fruition.
What happens in May 1405?
Scrope Rebellion
What happens in August 1405?
French land at Milford Haven
What happens in Sept 1405?
Battle at Worcester
Who was dissatisfied with Richard’s treatment of them?
Percies - especially with the borders
Why did the Percies support Henry?
He rewarded them - 1402 - got territories in both Wales and Scotland
What did the grants to Hotspur do?
Meant that he had an almost complete monopoly on military and political power in North Wales and the East March
What happened in September 1402 that could have caused Hotspur’s rebellion?
Earl of Northumberland and Hotspur fought alongside earl of Dunbar - decisive victory - dispute due to Henry not wanting prisoners
What did Percy want Henry to pay for?
Military service - felt it would assist with Scot campaigns
Who had a claim to the throne?
Elizabeth Mortimer - believed her nephew should be king
What did Henry say about Edmund Mortimer?
Traitor - refused to allow the negotiation for freedom
What did Henry with Mortimer’s lands?
Seized them - tension between Percies and king - increased in November - Mortimer marries Glyndwr’s daughter
What happened in April 1403?
PoW placed in charge of the newly united military command in Wales - reduced Hotspur’s power in the area
Where did Hotspur hold significant offices?
North Wales - but he was given a leading position in the prince’s household
What did Percy’s soldiers cry out?
Henry Percy King
When did Hotspur rebel?
1403
Who joined Hotspur?
Worcester and Cheshire
Who did Hotspur ally himself with?
Richard
What happened at the Battle?
Hotspur killed, Prince Hal injured
Why was the body of Hotspur displayed?
Prevent claims that he was still alive.
What was the main cause for Scrope’s rebellion?
Financial mismanagement of the king’s government
Who was Scrop?
Archbishop of York
Who joined Scrope?
Northumberland and earl marshal Thomas Mowbray - Lord Bardolf
What happened to Scrope?
Executed in June 1405 - criticised due to Scrope’s popularity
Who tried to intercede with the execution?
Arundel
What did moralists see the execution of Scrope as?
Abhorrent - Henry getting ill was divine retribution
What was the issue with Henry’s rule?
Tax and legitimacy
How many people supported Scrope?
8000 followed them onto the moor
How was Scrope seen?
As a martyr
How many troops did France send the Welsh?
2,500
What did Henry organise in 1402?
Marriage of his daughter Blanche to Ludwig - eldest son of Count Palatine of the Rhine and King of the Romans - gave Henry IV an important ally - strategically important against France.
Who did Philippa marry in 1406?
King of Norway, Sweden and Denmark
Who did Henry have an informal alliance with?
King of Portugal - king of Castille as well - Order of the Garter.
Who was Aquitaine granted to?
Charles VI’s heir - the Dauphin
What did the English do in 1402?
Sent a fleet to France - was intercepted
What happened in France in 1403?
French troops invaded Aquitaine - forced English troops to retreat
Where remained loyal to the English crown?
Central Gascony
What did Robert III do?
Refuse the legality of the usurpation - raids in northern England
What did Henry do in November 1399?
Informed parliament that he would wage war on Scotland
What did Henry do in 1400?
Wrote to Robert and other lords that they performed an act of homage ot him
How many men did Hotspur have?
870
How many men did Prince Hal have?
2,000
Who was Richard II married to?
Anne of Bohemia
What was the issue with Richard’s marriage?
Had to pay her dad a loan of 80,000 florins to the HRE and did have a dowry
How old was Princess Isabella?
9
What was the bonus of the marriage to Isabella?
Massive dowry
How long of a truce did the marriage enable?
28 years with France
Who were key figures in Richard’s council?
John of Gaunt and Thomas of Woodstock
What was tax like in his early years?
High
What was his military like?
Badly - French raids on the south coat in 1377 and 81
What was a victory for Richard?
The Peasants Revolt
What was the Lord Appellants Crisis?
Alliance between opposing nobles - lead to a strong unity between Bolingbroke and Woodstock
When was the Merciless Parliament?
1388
What was the merciless parliament?
Killing off of Richard’s Advisors
What could have caused Richard’s tyranny?
Anne’s death
What happened in July 1397?
Ordered three of the five lord appellants - Gloucester, Warwick and Arundel - to be arrested
How strong was the Cheshire retinue?
700 archers - 300 forming a personal bodyguard
Who was promoted?
Micheal de la Pole and Robert De Vere
What was De La Pole made in 1385?
Chancellor and Earl of Suffolk
When was the Peasants revolt?
1381
Who was blamed for the poll tax?
John of Gaunt
When was the Statute of Labourers passed?
1350
When was the Wonderful Parliament?
1386
Who became heir apparent following the death of Anne?
Roger Mortimer - Earl of March
What happened in 1397?
Bolingbroke gets embroiled in a quarrel with Mowbray - exiled for 10 years
What happens when Gaunt dies?
Bolingbroke is disinherited
Where does Bolingbroke land?
Humber Estuary
Who supports Bolingbroke?
Northumberland, Westmorland, Aundel and York
Who was sent to negotiate with Bolingbroke?
Exeter and Surrey
