Henry IV of England (1367-1413)

Main

1399-1413: King of England
1367-1397: Earl of Derby'
1397-1399: Duke of Hereford
1399-1399: Duke of Lancaster
Usurper of the Throne
House of Lancaster

Henry IV Plantagenet of Lancaster, King of England, was born 3 April 1367 in Bolingbroke Castle, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom to John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (1340-1399) and Blanche of Lancaster (1345-1369) and died 20 March 1413 Westminster Abbey, London, England, United Kingdom of unspecified causes. He married Mary de Bohun (c1368-1394) 27 July 1380 ^JL in Arundel Castle, West Sussex, England, United Kingdom. He married Joanna of Navarre (1370-1437) 1 February 1403 ^JL in Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom.

He was known from birth as Earl of Derby. In 1397 he was created Duke of Hereford by King Richard II, and in 1399 he inherited his father's title of Duke of Lancaster. Later that year, he usurped the throne and became king as Henry IV.

Biography

WarRosesMap1 — Map for Wars of the Roses

King Henry IV of England (1367-1413) was a significant figure in English history who reigned from 1399 until his death. He was the son of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and the grandson of King Edward III. Overall, Henry IV was a significant figure in English history who played an important role in establishing the legitimacy of the Lancaster dynasty. Despite the challenges he faced as king, he worked tirelessly to maintain English control over Scotland and Wales and to support the Church.

Here are some important details about his life and reign:

Henry IV came to the throne after overthrowing his cousin, King Richard II, in a civil war known as the Wars of the Roses. Richard II was imprisoned and died in captivity, and Henry IV was declared king by Parliament.
As king, Henry IV faced many challenges, including rebellion from several nobles who were unhappy with his rule. He also faced threats from Scotland and Wales, and he worked to maintain English control over those regions.
One of Henry IV's most significant accomplishments was the establishment of the House of Lancaster as a legitimate royal dynasty. This was important because Henry's claim to the throne was somewhat tenuous, and by establishing his family's legitimacy, he secured the succession for his heirs.
Henry IV was also known for his piety and his support for the Church. He made significant donations to religious institutions and was known for his devotion to the Virgin Mary.
Despite his piety, Henry IV was not always a popular king. His reign was marked by political instability and economic hardship, and he faced criticism for his heavy-handed approach to dealing with dissent.
Henry IV's health began to decline in the later years of his reign, and he suffered from a variety of illnesses. He died in 1413 and was succeeded by his son, Henry V.

Marriage and Family

1st marriage: Mary de Bohun

The date and venue of Henry's first marriage to Mary de Bohun (c1368-1394) are uncertain^[1] but her marriage licence, purchased by Henry's father John of Gaunt in June 1380, is preserved at the National Archives.

The accepted date of the ceremony is 5 February 1381, at Mary's family home of Rochford Hall, Essex.^[2] The near-contemporary chronicler Jean Froissart reports a rumour that Mary's sister Eleanor de Bohun kidnapped Mary from Pleshey Castle and held her at Arundel Castle, where she was kept as a novice nun; Eleanor's intention was to control Mary's half of the Bohun inheritance (or to allow her husband, Thomas, Duke of Gloucester, to control it).^[3] There Mary was persuaded to marry Henry. They had six children:^[4]

Henry V, King of England (1387-1422) - succeeded father as King of England
Thomas, 1st Duke of Clarence (1388-1421) - 2nd son, who married Margaret Holland, widow of John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset, and daughter of Thomas Holland, 2nd Earl of Kent, without progeny.
John, 1st Duke of Bedford (1389-1435) - 3rd son, who married twice: firstly to Anne of Burgundy (d.1432), daughter of John the Fearless, without progeny. Secondly to Jacquetta of Luxembourg, without progeny.
Humphrey, 1st Duke of Gloucester (1390-1447) - 4th son, who married twice but left no surviving legitimate progeny: firstly to Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut and Holland (d.1436), daughter of William VI, Count of Hainaut. Through this marriage Gloucester assumed the title "Count of Holland, Zeeland and Hainault". Secondly to Eleanor Cobham, his mistress.^[1]
Blanche of Lancaster (1392-1409) - married in 1402 Louis III, Elector Palatine
Philippa of Lancaster (1394-1430) - who married Eric of Pomerania, King of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway

2nd marriage: Joanna of Navarre

Mary de Bohun died in 1394, and on 7 February 1403 Henry married Joanna of Navarre (1370-1437), the daughter of Charles II of Navarre, at Winchester. She was the widow of John IV, Duke of Brittany (known in traditional English sources as John V),^[5] with whom she had had four daughters and four sons; however, her marriage to the King of England was childless.^[1]

Other Relations

By an unknown mistress, Henry IV had one illegitimate child:

Edmund Leboorde (1401 – shortly before 19 December 1419)^[1]^[6]^[7]

Children

Offspring of Henry IV, King of England and Mary de Bohun (c1368-1394)
Name	Birth	Death	Joined with
Henry V, King of England (1387-1422)	16 September 1387 Monmouth, Wales, United Kingdom	31 August 1422 Vincennes, France	Catherine de Valois (1401-1437)
Thomas, 1st Duke of Clarence (1388-1421)	1387	22 March 1421	Margaret Holland (1385-1439)
John, 1st Duke of Bedford (1389-1435)	20 June 1389	14 September 1435 Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France	Anne of Burgundy (1404-1432) Jacquette de Luxembourg (c1415-1472)
Humphrey, 1st Duke of Gloucester (1390-1447)	3 October 1390	23 February 1447	Jacoba von Wittelsbach (1401-1436) Eleanor Cobham (c1400-1452)
Blanche of Lancaster (1392-1409)	December 1392 Peterborough Castle, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom	22 May 1409 Haguenau, Alsace, France	Ludwig III. von der Pfalz (1378-1436)
Philippa of Lancaster (1394-1430)	4 June 1394 Peterborough Castle, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom	7 January 1430 Vadstena, Östergötland, Sweden	Erich von Pommern (1382-1459)

Offspring of Henry IV, King of England and unknown parent
Name	Birth	Death	Joined with
Edmund Leboorde (1401-1419)

Siblings

Offspring of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (1340-1399) and Blanche of Lancaster (1345-1369)
Name	Birth	Death	Joined with
Philippa of Lancaster (1360-1415)	31 March 1360 Leicester Castle, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom	19 July 1415 Odivelas, Portugal	John I of Portugal (1357-1433)
John of Lancaster (1362-1362)
Elizabeth of Lancaster (1363-1425)	1363	24 November 1425 Burford, Shropshire, England, United Kingdom	John Hastings, 3rd Earl of Pembroke (1372-1389) John Holland, 1st Duke of Exeter (c1352-1400) John Cornwall, 1st Baron Fanhope (c1364-1443)
Edward of Lancaster (1365-1365)
John of Lancaster (1366-1366)
Henry IV of England (1367-1413)	3 April 1367 Bolingbroke Castle, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom	20 March 1413 Westminster Abbey, London, England, United Kingdom	Mary de Bohun (c1368-1394) Joanna of Navarre (1370-1437)
Isabel of Lancaster (1368-1368)

Offspring of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (1340-1399) and Constance of Castile (1354-1394)
Name	Birth	Death	Joined with
Katherine of Lancaster (1372-1418)	6 June 1372 Hertford Castle, Hertford, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom	2 June 1418 Valladolid, Spain	Henry III of Castile (1379-1405)
John of Lancaster (1374-1374)

Offspring of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (1340-1399) and Catherine De Roet (1350-1403)
Name	Birth	Death	Joined with
John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset (c1373-1410)	1371	16 March 1409	Margaret Holland (1385-1439)
Henry Cardinal Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester (1375-1447)
Thomas Beaufort, 1st Duke of Exeter (1377-1426)
Joan Beaufort (1379-1440)	1379 Château de Beaufort, Haute-Loire, France	13 November 1440 Howden, Yorkshire, England	Robert, 3rd Baron Ferrers of Wemme (c1373-1396) Ralph de Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland (c1364-1425)

Offspring of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (1340-1399) and Marie de Saint-Hilaire (c1340-aft1399)
Name	Birth	Death	Joined with
Blanche of Lancaster (1359-1388)	1359	1388	Thomas Morieux (1355-1387)

Carr, Helen (2021). The Red Prince: the life of John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster. London: Oneworld. ISBN 9780861540822.
Armitage-Smith, Sydney (1905). John of Gaunt. Charles Scribner's Sons.
Bevan, Bryan (1994). Henry IV. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0312116969.
"Henry IV [known as Henry Bolingbroke]". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2010. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
Cokayne, George Edward, ed (1926). The Complete Peerage. VI (2nd ed.). London: St Catherine Press.
Janvrin, Isabelle; Rawlinson, Catherine (6 June 2016). [Henry IV of England (1367-1413) at Google Books The French in London: From William the Conqueror to Charles de Gaulle]. Wilmington Square Books. p. 16. ISBN 978-1-908524-65-2. Henry IV of England (1367-1413) at Google Books.
Given-Wilson, Chris (26 April 2016). [[[:Template:Googlebooks]] Henry IV]. English Monarchs series. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-15419-1. Template:Googlebooks.
McNiven, Peter (1985). "The Problem of Henry IV's Health, 1405–1413". English Historical Review 100.
Mortimer, Ian (2007). [[[:Template:Googlebooks]] The Fears of Henry IV: The Life of England's Self-made King]. London: Jonathan Cape. ISBN 978-0-224-07300-4. Template:Googlebooks.
Nickson, Charles (1887), History of Runcorn, London and Warrington: Mackie & Co., OCLC 5389146
Panton, Kenneth J. (2011). Historical Dictionary of the British Monarchy. Scarecrow Press.
Watson, G. W. (1896). "The Seize Quartiers of the Kings and Queens of England". In H. W. Forsyth Harwood. The Genealogist. New Series. 12. Exeter: William Pollard & Co.. https://archive.org/details/genealogist1218selb/page/n251.
Weir, Alison (2008). Britain's Royal Family. ISBN 9780099539735.
Wilson, Christopher (1990). Fernie, Eric. ed. The Tomb of Henry IV and the Holy Oil of St Thomas of Canterbury. London: Hambledon Press.

Ancestry Trees

Contemporary References

Here are some of the best contemporary references for his life:

Chronicles of Froissart: Jean Froissart was a French chronicler who wrote extensively about the Hundred Years' War, including the reign of King Henry IV. His chronicles provide a detailed account of the political and military events of the time.
The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe: John Foxe was an English historian and martyrologist who wrote extensively about the religious history of England. His work includes a detailed account of Henry IV's reign and his support for the Church.
The Paston Letters: The Paston family was a prominent English family during the 15th century, and their letters provide a fascinating glimpse into the social and political life of the time. The letters include references to Henry IV and his court.
The Brut Chronicle: The Brut Chronicle is a collection of Middle English chronicles that provide a detailed account of English history from its mythical origins to the reign of Henry VI. The chronicles include references to Henry IV and his reign.
The Book of Margery Kempe: Margery Kempe was an English mystic who wrote about her spiritual experiences in the early 15th century. Her book includes references to Henry IV and his support for the Church.
The Shakespearean Plays: Several of William Shakespeare's plays are set during the reign of Henry IV, including "Henry IV, Part 1," "Henry IV, Part 2," and "Henry V." While these plays are not strictly historical, they provide a vivid and engaging portrayal of the political and social climate of the time.

Original Citations

From Shakespeare

Here's a lengthy original citation from William Shakespeare's play "Henry IV, Part 1," which features several scenes with King Henry IV: ACT 1, SCENE 1:

KING HENRY IV: So shaken as we are, so wan with care, Find we a time for frighted peace to pant, And breathe short-winded accents of new broils To be commenced in strands afar remote. No more the thirsty entrance of this soil Shall daub her lips with her own children's blood; No more shall trenching war channel her fields, Nor bruise her flowerets with the armed hoofs Of hostile paces: those opposed eyes, Which, like the meteors of a troubled heaven, All of one nature, of one substance bred, Did lately meet in the intestine shock And furious close of civil butchery, Shall now, in mutual well-beseeming ranks, March all one way and be no more opposed Against acquaintance, kindred and allies: The edge of war, like an ill-sheathed knife, No more shall cut his master. Therefore, friends, As far as to the sepulchre of Christ, Whose soldier now, under whose blessed cross We are impressed and engaged to fight, Forthwith a power of English shall we levy; Whose arms were moulded in their mothers' womb To chase these pagans in those holy fields Over whose acres walk'd those blessed feet Which fourteen hundred years ago were nail'd For our advantage on the bitter cross. But this our purpose now is twelve month old, And bootless 'tis to tell you we will go: Therefore we meet not now. Then let me hear Of you, my gentle cousin Westmoreland, What yesternight our council did decree In forwarding this dear expedience.

Royal Succession Chart

Regnal titles
Henry IV of England (1367-1413) House of Lancaster Cadet branch of the House of Plantagenet Born: c. April 1367 Died: 20 March 1413
Preceded by Richard II	King of England Lord of Ireland 1399–1413	Succeeded by Henry V
Preceded by Richard II	Duke of Aquitaine 1399–1400	Succeeded by Henry V
Peerage of England
Preceded by John of Gaunt	Duke of Lancaster 1399	Succeeded by Henry of Monmouth
In abeyance Title last held by Humphrey de Bohun	Earl of Northampton 1384–1399	Succeeded by Anne of Gloucester
Political offices
Preceded by The Duke of Lancaster	Lord High Steward 1399	Succeeded by The Duke of Clarence

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named weir
^ Brown & Summerson 2010.
^ Johnes, Thomas; Froissart, Jean (1806). Chronicles of England, France and Spain. 5. London: Longman. p. 242. OCLC 465942209. ; Strickland, Agnes (1840). Lives of the queens of England from the Norman conquest with anecdotes of their courts. 3. London: Henry Colborn. p. 144. OCLC 459108616. https://books.google.com/books?id=KwY-AAAAcAAJ&pg=PA144.
^ The idea that Henry and Mary had a child Edward who was born and died in April 1382 is based on a misreading of an account which was published in an erroneous form by JH Wylie in the 19th century. It missed a line which made clear that the boy in question was the son of Thomas of Woodstock. The attribution of the name Edward to this boy is conjecture based on the fact that Henry was the grandson of Edward III and idolised his uncle Edward of Woodstock yet did not call any of his sons Edward. However, there is no evidence that there was any child at this time (when Mary de Bohun was 12), let alone that he was called Edward. See appendix 2 in Ian Mortimer's book The Fears of Henry IV.
^ Jones, Michael (1988). The Creation of Brittany. London: Hambledon Press. p. 123. ISBN 090762880X. https://archive.org/details/creationbrittany00jone.
^ Richardson, Douglas (2011). Everingham, Kimball G.. ed. Magna Carta Ancestry. 2 (2nd ed.). Salt Lake City. p. 554. ISBN 978-1-4499-6638-6.
^ Mortimer 2007, p. 372.

Footnotes (including sources)

John Kenney, Nhprman, Phlox, AMK152, Thurstan, Rtol, Robin Patterson, MainTour

[weir-1] Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named weir

[FOOTNOTEBrownSummerson2010-2] Brown & Summerson 2010.

[3] Johnes, Thomas; Froissart, Jean (1806). Chronicles of England, France and Spain. 5. London: Longman. p. 242. OCLC 465942209. ; Strickland, Agnes (1840). Lives of the queens of England from the Norman conquest with anecdotes of their courts. 3. London: Henry Colborn. p. 144. OCLC 459108616. https://books.google.com/books?id=KwY-AAAAcAAJ&pg=PA144.

[4] The idea that Henry and Mary had a child Edward who was born and died in April 1382 is based on a misreading of an account which was published in an erroneous form by JH Wylie in the 19th century. It missed a line which made clear that the boy in question was the son of Thomas of Woodstock. The attribution of the name Edward to this boy is conjecture based on the fact that Henry was the grandson of Edward III and idolised his uncle Edward of Woodstock yet did not call any of his sons Edward. However, there is no evidence that there was any child at this time (when Mary de Bohun was 12), let alone that he was called Edward. See appendix 2 in Ian Mortimer's book The Fears of Henry IV.

[5] Jones, Michael (1988). The Creation of Brittany. London: Hambledon Press. p. 123. ISBN 090762880X. https://archive.org/details/creationbrittany00jone.

[6] Richardson, Douglas (2011). Everingham, Kimball G.. ed. Magna Carta Ancestry. 2 (2nd ed.). Salt Lake City. p. 554. ISBN 978-1-4499-6638-6.

[FOOTNOTEMortimer2007372-7] Mortimer 2007, p. 372.

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