So here we go... before you read today's "Monarch of England" please go read my last post on the Wars of the Roses.
Back? Good... let's move onto the man, the legend, the great usurper: Henry IV!
-Henry was the oldest son of John of Gaunt. John had a mistress, Kathryn Swynford, who later became his third wife. King Richard II had legitimized their children, (Henry's half siblings,) on the condition that they were automatically ineligible to take the throne. (Which is amusing, because those kids, known as house Beaufort, would sire the Tudor line later... don't forget them.)
- Had a complicated relationship with his Beaufort siblings. Thomas Beaufort was the ruler of Pontefract castle, and was probably the one who may have starved King Richard II for Henry, but as possible rivals, Henry seems to have kept the Beauforts at arm's length.
- However, the Beauforts managed to marry a granddaughter into the York line of the Plantagenets... uniting the two houses, albeit through a line that "could never inherit the throne."
- Was a hot headed and impetuous youth, prone to duelling. Once, in a fit of rage, he said treasonous things about king Richard II. Richard demanded a duel between Henry and Thomas de Mowbray, his accuser. John of Gaunt managed to convince the king to exile them both rather than see more bloodshed. Richard aquiesced, and Henry was sent to France.
- In 1399, his father died. King Richard II immediately confiscated all of the Lancaster land, and said that if the exiled Henry wanted to get his land back, he must beg Richard for it. This did not go over well with anyone. (And was technically a violation of Magna Carta.)
- In response, Henry led a coalition of nobles and clergy to usurp the throne. It was successful, and Richard starved to death in jail. Henry Bollingbroke was now King Henry IV, with the church's backing.
- Now allied with members of the church, the clergy expected the king to come down on one side or the other over the Lollard movement. (Monks wanting reform in the church, most notably, stopping corruption, championing education, and English masses in English language.) John of Gaunt had supported the Lollards, but Henry IV betrayed them, supporting the Catholic church. Henry needed the church if he was to have his claim legitimized. Burning at the stake was made legal by parliament, and confiscating church land was made illegal.
- Immediately had to contend with rebellions in Wales and England. Many refused to follow a usurper. Some supported Edmund, the direct descendant of Lionel, and thus house York. Some, like the Welsh, just wanted freedom from England. Some just wanted to loot and pillage. King Henry was not a brilliant tactician, but luckily, his son, (Also Henry,) was. The King and Prince managed to hold onto power, although sometimes just barely.
- Surived many assassination attempts, usually through luck... (and a large amount of personal guards and attendants.)
- Henry Percy, a descendant of Henry III and Earl of Northumberland, openly rebelled against Henry IV, with the backing of the Scots. Though initially successful in driving out English forces, Percy was defeated not once, not twice, but THREE times. On the third attempt, Northumberland was killed in battle. His head joined other traitors' heads on a pike at the gates of London Bridge.
- Executed the Archbishop of York, Richard Scope, when he was found to be leading a rebellion against the crown. The execution of an Archbishop was bold, and brought back the horror of Henry II and Thomas Becket. The king was scandalized. This was, however, not the truth of the matter. The cult of Thomas Becket was particularly strong at the time. (As evidenced in the writings of Geoffrey Chaucer, who lived just before Henry's reign,) and Henry was devoted to the worship of Thomas Becket as much as many others were.
- The War in France ground on, as did outbreaks of the plague. Faced with continual rebellion and dwindling control, Henry IV's health deteriorated.
- Hosted a tournament and feast for the only Byzantine Emperor to ever visit England, Manuel II. Henry sent monetary aid to the Byzantines, who were deep in their wars with the Ottoman Empire, and losing fast.
- Began to exhibit a horrible skin disease. Some thought he was a leper. This is possible, though it may have been severe eczema or psoriasis. Historians aren't sure. Regardless, Henry withdrew from public affairs, leaving more and more of his command to his son, Prince Henry.
- He was also stricken with major fits or episodes.... possibly epilepsy, but more likely heart attacks or strokes. Someone once said that the King would die in Jerusalem on crusade. In reality, he died suddenly in the "Jerusalem Chamber" at Westminster Abbey. He was only 46 years old, but it is said that, due to his skin condition, he looked like a wizened old man.
- A devoted follower of Thomas Becket, Henry IV was not buried in Westminster Abbey, asking instead to be interred next to Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral.
- Upon his death, his son became Henry V, the second Lancaster King, and a well renowned warrior in his own right.
Back? Good... let's move onto the man, the legend, the great usurper: Henry IV!
-Henry was the oldest son of John of Gaunt. John had a mistress, Kathryn Swynford, who later became his third wife. King Richard II had legitimized their children, (Henry's half siblings,) on the condition that they were automatically ineligible to take the throne. (Which is amusing, because those kids, known as house Beaufort, would sire the Tudor line later... don't forget them.)
- Had a complicated relationship with his Beaufort siblings. Thomas Beaufort was the ruler of Pontefract castle, and was probably the one who may have starved King Richard II for Henry, but as possible rivals, Henry seems to have kept the Beauforts at arm's length.
- However, the Beauforts managed to marry a granddaughter into the York line of the Plantagenets... uniting the two houses, albeit through a line that "could never inherit the throne."
- Was a hot headed and impetuous youth, prone to duelling. Once, in a fit of rage, he said treasonous things about king Richard II. Richard demanded a duel between Henry and Thomas de Mowbray, his accuser. John of Gaunt managed to convince the king to exile them both rather than see more bloodshed. Richard aquiesced, and Henry was sent to France.
- In 1399, his father died. King Richard II immediately confiscated all of the Lancaster land, and said that if the exiled Henry wanted to get his land back, he must beg Richard for it. This did not go over well with anyone. (And was technically a violation of Magna Carta.)
- In response, Henry led a coalition of nobles and clergy to usurp the throne. It was successful, and Richard starved to death in jail. Henry Bollingbroke was now King Henry IV, with the church's backing.
- Now allied with members of the church, the clergy expected the king to come down on one side or the other over the Lollard movement. (Monks wanting reform in the church, most notably, stopping corruption, championing education, and English masses in English language.) John of Gaunt had supported the Lollards, but Henry IV betrayed them, supporting the Catholic church. Henry needed the church if he was to have his claim legitimized. Burning at the stake was made legal by parliament, and confiscating church land was made illegal.
- Immediately had to contend with rebellions in Wales and England. Many refused to follow a usurper. Some supported Edmund, the direct descendant of Lionel, and thus house York. Some, like the Welsh, just wanted freedom from England. Some just wanted to loot and pillage. King Henry was not a brilliant tactician, but luckily, his son, (Also Henry,) was. The King and Prince managed to hold onto power, although sometimes just barely.
- Surived many assassination attempts, usually through luck... (and a large amount of personal guards and attendants.)
- Henry Percy, a descendant of Henry III and Earl of Northumberland, openly rebelled against Henry IV, with the backing of the Scots. Though initially successful in driving out English forces, Percy was defeated not once, not twice, but THREE times. On the third attempt, Northumberland was killed in battle. His head joined other traitors' heads on a pike at the gates of London Bridge.
- Executed the Archbishop of York, Richard Scope, when he was found to be leading a rebellion against the crown. The execution of an Archbishop was bold, and brought back the horror of Henry II and Thomas Becket. The king was scandalized. This was, however, not the truth of the matter. The cult of Thomas Becket was particularly strong at the time. (As evidenced in the writings of Geoffrey Chaucer, who lived just before Henry's reign,) and Henry was devoted to the worship of Thomas Becket as much as many others were.
- The War in France ground on, as did outbreaks of the plague. Faced with continual rebellion and dwindling control, Henry IV's health deteriorated.
- Hosted a tournament and feast for the only Byzantine Emperor to ever visit England, Manuel II. Henry sent monetary aid to the Byzantines, who were deep in their wars with the Ottoman Empire, and losing fast.
- Began to exhibit a horrible skin disease. Some thought he was a leper. This is possible, though it may have been severe eczema or psoriasis. Historians aren't sure. Regardless, Henry withdrew from public affairs, leaving more and more of his command to his son, Prince Henry.
- He was also stricken with major fits or episodes.... possibly epilepsy, but more likely heart attacks or strokes. Someone once said that the King would die in Jerusalem on crusade. In reality, he died suddenly in the "Jerusalem Chamber" at Westminster Abbey. He was only 46 years old, but it is said that, due to his skin condition, he looked like a wizened old man.
- A devoted follower of Thomas Becket, Henry IV was not buried in Westminster Abbey, asking instead to be interred next to Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral.
- Upon his death, his son became Henry V, the second Lancaster King, and a well renowned warrior in his own right.