Henry IV (1399–1413): The King Who Seized the Crown

Who Was Henry IV?

Henry IV was born Henry Bolingbroke, the son of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and the grandson of Edward III.

In 1399, he did something almost unthinkable—he overthrew his cousin, Richard II, and took the English throne for himself. He became the first king of the House of Lancaster, creating a new royal dynasty.

Although Henry was an experienced soldier and respected nobleman, many people believed he had no right to be king. For the rest of his reign, he was forced to defend the crown he had seized.

Portrait of Henry IV, King of England

The King Who Took a Crown

Henry did not set out to become king.

In 1398, he became involved in a bitter dispute with another powerful nobleman, Thomas Mowbray. Richard II ordered the disagreement to be settled by trial by combat—a formal duel in which it was believed God Himself would decide who was telling the truth. Medieval people believed that the innocent man would be granted victory, making the duel not just a fight, but a judgement from God.

Thousands gathered at Coventry to watch the contest.

At the very last moment, however, Richard dramatically stopped the duel before a single blow was struck. Instead, he exiled both men. Henry was banished from England for 10 years (later reduced to six), while Mowbray was exiled for life.

The following year, Henry's father, John of Gaunt, died. Instead of allowing Henry to inherit his father's vast estates and wealth, Richard seized them for the Crown. Determined to reclaim what was rightfully his, Henry returned to England in 1399. As he travelled across the country, powerful nobles flocked to his side. Before long, his campaign to recover his inheritance had become something much bigger.

Richard II was captured, forced to abdicate, and imprisoned. On 13 October 1399, Henry was crowned King Henry IV in Westminster Abbey, becoming the first king of the House of Lancaster.

A Crown That Was Never Safe

Almost as soon as Henry became king, rebellion followed.

Some nobles remained loyal to Richard II, while others believed the descendants of Lionel of Antwerp, Edward III's second son, had the stronger hereditary claim to the throne. Henry had won the crown by force, but many questioned whether he had truly inherited it.

The uncertainty surrounding his claim would eventually lead to the Wars of the Roses, although that conflict was still many years away.

Rebellion Across England and Wales

Henry spent much of his reign fighting to stay king.

In 1400, the Welsh leader Owain Glyndŵr declared himself Prince of Wales and launched a rebellion against English rule. The uprising lasted for years and turned Glyndŵr into one of Wales' greatest national heroes.

At the same time, Henry faced rebellion from the powerful Percy family, who had helped him win the throne. Their most famous leader was Henry "Hotspur" Percy, one of England's greatest knights. The rebels met Henry's army at the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403. It was one of the bloodiest battles ever fought in medieval England.

Henry won the battle, and Hotspur was killed.

During the fighting, Henry's eldest son—the future Henry V—was struck in the face by an arrow. Remarkably, he survived after a daring operation to remove it, leaving him with a lifelong scar.

Battle of Shrewsbury, 1403

Three Things to See

Westminster Abbey

Henry IV was crowned here in 1399, marking the beginning of the Lancastrian dynasty.

Shrewsbury Battlefield

Visit the site where Henry defeated Hotspur and secured his throne in one of England's most important medieval battles.

Canterbury Cathedral

Henry IV chose to be buried here alongside his second wife, Joan of Navarre, making him one of the few English kings not buried in Westminster Abbey.

Did You Know?

Henry IV was the first English king since the Norman Conquest to have English as his first language.

For more than 300 years after 1066, England's kings mainly spoke Norman French. During Henry's reign, English began to return as the language of government, literature and everyday royal life—a significant step in the development of modern England.

Historical Highlights

• 1399 – Deposes Richard II and becomes Henry IV.

• 1400 – Owain Glyndŵr begins the Welsh rebellion.

• 1403 – Defeats Hotspur at the Battle of Shrewsbury.

• 1413 – Dies and is succeeded by his son, Henry V.

  
  

Imagine This...

You're standing inside Westminster Abbey as Henry Bolingbroke kneels before the altar. Moments later, the crown is placed upon his head. Some in the crowd cheer their new king. Others wonder whether they have just witnessed the lawful coronation of England's next ruler—or the beginning of a family feud that will one day erupt into the Wars of the Roses.

Guide's Insider Tip

If you're visiting Westminster Abbey, stand before the Coronation Chair and imagine Henry IV becoming king after deposing Richard II. Then walk to the nearby Jewel Tower, one of the few surviving parts of the medieval Palace of Westminster that Henry himself would have known.

What Happened Next?

Henry IV spent his reign defending the throne he had seized. His son, Henry V, would inherit a more secure kingdom and become one of England's greatest warrior kings, winning a famous victory against the French at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.