Henry IV, Duke of Lancaster

Henry IV (15 April 1367 – 20 March 1413) was King of England from 1399 to 1413. He asserted the claim of his grandfather King Edward III, a maternal grandson of Philip IV of France, to the Kingdom of France. Henry was the first English ruler since the Norman Conquest whose mother tongue was English rather than French.[3] He was known as Henry Bolingbroke (/ˈbɒlɪŋbrʊk/) before taking the throne. His father was Edward III’s third son, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. His mother Blanche was the daughter of royal nobleman, Henry, Duke of Lancaster.

John of Gaunt enjoyed a position of considerable influence during much of the reign of his own nephew, King Richard II. Henry was involved in the revolt of the Lords Appellant against Richard in 1388. He was later exiled by the king. After John of Gaunt died in 1399, the king did not allow Henry to inherit Gaunt’s duchy. That year, Henry rallied a group of supporters, overthrew and imprisoned Richard II, and took the throne.

As king, Henry faced a number of rebellions. Owain Glyndŵr, the self-proclaimed ruler of Wales, revolted against the king. Henry IV defeated Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, at the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403. The king had poor health in the latter part of his reign, and his eldest son, Henry of Monmouth, assumed the reins of government in 1410. Henry IV died in 1413, and was succeeded by his son.