henry IV, 1399-1413 Flashcards
1
Q
justifications for henry becoming king
A
- PROBLEMS
- he was an usurper
- he had set a precedent for over mighty subjects to oust the king if they had enough military support
- other possible kings: Richard II still alive, Edmund Mortimer (5th Earl of March) was rightful king by primogeniture
- justifications
- Edmund Mortimer was only 8 in 1399
- Henry was an adult male and a proven warrior, people preferred him over another child king
- 39 accusations made against Richard II in Parliament
2
Q
13 Oct 1399
A
Henry crowned as king in Westminster Abbey. Followed his coronation by ensuring his eldest son became the Prince of Wales, and reversing Richard’s decisions in Parliament. Promised that he would ‘live of his own’ and only request taxes in times of war
3
Q
6 Jan 1400
A
- Epiphany Rising
- some loyal Ricardians including the earls of Huntingdon, Kent and Salisbury, and Sir Thomas Despenser, planned a conspiracy to murder Henry and his 4 sons during the traditional Christmas revelry
- Henry and his sons could escape as he had been forewarned by his spies, and the plan did not gain popular support. Many of the rebels were killed by the local people before they were found and executed. Showed people had a genuine dislike of Richard II
4
Q
Feb 1400
A
Richard died (cause unknown but likely he was murdered on Henry’s orders), and the Epiphany Rising may have been the trigger for this
5
Q
Welsh rebellion
A
- began in 1400, ended in 1409
- Owain Glyndwr led a rebellion from September 1400 from Glyndyfrdwy (elevated Owain to the status of a prince)
- Henry IV left his 13yo son in charge, but the real military leader was Henry ‘Hotspur’ Percy
- Owain captured uncle of Edmund Mortimer V (Edmund Mortimer IV) and he began to support the Welsh rebellion and claimed that his nephew was the rightful king
- Sep 1402: Parliament enacted a series of statutes forbidding sale of food supplies + armour to Wales, and prohibited public meetings etc. by Welsh men/those married to Welsh women (essentially anyone who showed allegiance to Owain) as the situation was serious
6
Q
Hotspur’s rebellion
A
- 1403
- Henry ‘Hotspur’ Percy was growing increasingly discontent with the Lancastrian regime e.g. he saw unwarranted interference in his battles from Henry IV, financial disagreements as he wanted Henry to pay the Percies for military service faster, his wife (Elizabeth Mortimer) had a claim to the throne, etc.
- rebelled in 1403 with his uncle, Earl of Worcester, and issued proclamations against Henry IV and claimed allegiance to Richard II -> Hotspur was killed on the battlefield and buried after being publicly displayed to prevent claims that he was alive
7
Q
Scotland
A
- threat persisted through early years of 15th century
- Henry IV attempted to seek a more peaceful relationship w/ Scotland, but Robert III (king of Scotland) refused to recognise the legality of the usurpation -> made raids on England
- 10 Nov 1399: Henry IV informed Parliament he would wage war on Scotland
- early 1400: wrote to Robert III + other lords that they perform an act of homage to him as their ‘good lord’
- August 1400: invaded Scotland with 15k army, little resistance and the English army gained little (few diplomatic exchanges)
- 1402: Henry Hotspur and George of Dunbar (earl of Northumberland) took 4 Scottish earls as prisoner (but this caused tensions with Henry IV and the Percies)
- victory at Battle of Homildon Hill lessened threat from Scotland
8
Q
France
A
- Duke of Orleans tried to make things difficult for Henry IV
- Isabella of France (Richard II’s wife) was returned to France w/o the wealth that she had brought with her. Duke of Orleans challenged Henry IV to combat to embarrass him (Henry IV refused as he was a ‘lower rank’)
- tensions over Duchy of Acquitaine due to territorial claims. England held this land
- 1401: Charles VI granted Acquitaine to heir, Dauphin Louis (insulting to England and Henry IV) -> led to piracy on both sides of the Channel. Hostilities costly to Henry IV, and impacts on trade
- French supported by Scots
- two French naval attacks in 1404, inadequate defences
9
Q
Scrope’s rebellion
A
- Richard Scrope, Archbishop of York + many noblemen incl. earl of Northumberland rebelled in 1405 (as Henry IV spent too much money)
- revolt put down efficiently and Scrope was executed in June 1405 on Henry IV’s orders -> widely criticised as Scrope was popular and it was unconventional for senior clergymen to be executed
- Henry IV became sick days after the execution -> people saw this as a sign of divine retribution for the execution
10
Q
How did Henry IV survive the threats to his regime?
A
His position was difficult by 1405 due to the high cost of defending against the Scottish, French (both foreign) and the Welsh (internal)
- international diplomacy:
- marriage in 1402 of daughter, Blanche, to Ludwig, King of Romans
- marriage in 1406 of daughter, Philippa, to king of Norway
- married Joan of Brittany in 1402
- informal alliances with King of Portugal in 1400 and King of Castille in 1402 (invited them to be members of the Order of the Garter)
- removed Richard II in 1400 Feb, guarding 5th Earl of March to prevent people kidnapping him and using him as a figurehead for a rebellion (prevention of other potential kings)
- put down Hotspur’s rebellion in 1403
11
Q
1406
A
- Long Parliament
- happened due to Henry IV’s financial mismanagement. Parliament tried to take control
12
Q
Heir
A
- Henry, Prince of Wales
- Proven military leader, won battles at Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403, led campaigns in Wales
- led council from 1406-1411 when Henry IV was sick
13
Q
Tripartite indenture
A
- 1405
- deal between Wales (had Wales), Percys (had North) and Mortimers (had South)
- Owain, Edmund Mortimer IV, Hotspur’s father
- ended in 1408 as Hotspur’s father was killed at the Battle of Bramham Moor and Welsh were defeated at Harlech Castle 1408. Edmund Mortimer V (18yo at the time) was loyal to Henry IV
14
Q
1407
A
Duke of Orleans killed, French pressure on England reduced
15
Q
1413
A
Henry IV dies
