Henry IV of England

NAME Henry IV of England (born Henry Bolingbroke).

WHAT FAMOUS FOR King of England from 1399 to 1413; first English monarch of the House of Lancaster; usurper of Richard II; restorer of royal authority after a turbulent 14th century.

BIRTH Henry was born in April 1367 (likely April 15) at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, from which he derived his epithet "Bolingbroke". The exact date was not precisely recorded in contemporary documents, though April 15 is widely accepted by historians.​

FAMILY BACKGROUND Henry was the only surviving son of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (third surviving son of King Edward III), and Blanche of Lancaster, daughter of Henry, Duke of Lancaster. His parents were cousins, both descending from Henry III. He had four half-siblings from his father's longstanding mistress and later third wife, Katherine Swynford, who were legitimized as the Beaufort family (Henry, Thomas, John, and Joan).​

CHILDHOOD Henry's childhood was spent primarily at Bolingbroke Castle, where he was likely christened in the local St. Peter & St. Paul Church. His mother, Blanche, died in 1369 when Henry was approximately two years old, possibly from the plague that was sweeping through England. 

Following his mother's death, Henry was raised by Katherine Swynford, who later became his stepmother when she married John of Gaunt in 1396. 

As a young nobleman, Henry was a companion and childhood playmate to his cousin Richard of Bordeaux, who would become King Richard II in 1377.​

His childhood was marked by privilege but also instability, with the Plantagenet royal family frequently in conflict.

EDUCATION Educated as a noble prince, Henry learned Latin, French, chivalric culture, statecraft, and the administrative skills expected of a future magnate. His training emphasised horsemanship, arms, diplomacy, and governance.

CAREER RECORD 1377: Styled as Earl of Derby.

1387–1389: Joined the Lords Appellant, a group of powerful nobles who opposed and controlled his cousin, King Richard II.

1390 & 1392: Participated in the Northern Crusades with the Teutonic Knights in Lithuania and Prussia.

1397: Created Duke of Hereford by Richard II.

1398: Banished from England for life by Richard II.

1399: Returned from exile, deposed Richard II, and usurped the throne, becoming King Henry IV.  He was crowned King of England on October 13, 1399, establishing the Lancastrian dynasty.​

APPEARANCE Chroniclers describe Henry as fair-complexioned, and athletic in youth. Later life brought physical decline, illness, and a face marked by the strains of kingship.

Henry's tomb effigy in Canterbury Cathedral reveals a man of strong build with pronounced facial features. Portraits from the Tudor period, likely derived from the tomb effigy, show him with distinctive eyebrows, a beard, and wearing royal regalia. Unlike his cousin Richard II, who was described as tall, slender, and handsome with golden hair, Henry was considered to have an average appearance, noted more for his battle prowess than his looks.​

Illuminated miniature, c. 1402

FASHION His style was noted for its striking appearance in portraits, particularly the use of a cowl-like headdress, known as a chaperon (a common fashion of the era), often richly adorned with beads and gems.

At his coronation on October 13, 1399, Henry wore a short doublet of gold cloth during the procession from the Tower of London to Westminster. He wore the blue garter of the Order of the Garter on his left leg and the badge of the King of France around his neck. For the coronation ceremony itself, he was described as appearing "apparelled lyke a prelate of the churche," wearing ceremonial robes that included a crimson surcoat and the Robe of State of crimson velvet lined with ermine. Over 2,000 lords, ladies, knights, and servants accompanied him wearing new robes of red velvet or silk.​ (1)

Henry IV of England is noted to have taken a bath every week, which was an unusually frequent bathing schedule for the Middle Ages. This habit was linked to his founding of the chivalric Order of the Bath, where knights were required to bathe as a symbol of purification before being invested. Weekly bathing was not common practice for most people in medieval England, as access to regular bathing was limited and many relied on washing hands and face daily but bathing the entire body was more rare and usually reserved for the wealthy or special occasions. (2)

CHARACTER Henry’s character was a study in contrasts. In his youth, he was celebrated as chivalrous, adventurous, pious, and genuinely committed to justice and good governance. He entered adulthood with energy, ambition, and a sincere belief in the ideals of knighthood. Yet once crowned, the realities of usurpation reshaped him. The constant threat of rebellion made him more cautious, suspicious, and at times ruthlessly pragmatic—he was even willing to execute an archbishop to secure his rule.

Even his enemies conceded he was capable and determined, though not charismatic in the manner of some of his predecessors. Unlike the aloof Richard II, Henry prided himself on being practical, steady, and accessible to Parliament and the wider landowning classes. But the weight of his illegitimate seizure of the throne shadowed his kingship. Guilt, insecurity, and the ever-present fear of being overthrown pushed him toward political expediency and cultivated distance.

Shakespeare captured this tension vividly, depicting Henry as stern, aloof, and resolute—consumed by anxieties about his fracturing kingdom and his wayward son. He described Henry believing that a ruler should maintain a calculated distance, remarking that “by being seldom seen, I could not stir. But like a comet, I was wondered at.” 

Deeply religious, Henry sought penance for his actions and clung to prophecies about his fate. Ultimately, he became less a magnificent monarch than a caretaker king, holding the realm together through vigilance rather than grandeur, forever marked by the contradictions that defined his rise and reign.

SPEAKING VOICE  Contemporary accounts suggest he spoke clearly and confidently, with the polished court French and English expected of a prince raised in Gaunt’s multilingual household.

Henry made a momentous linguistic decision at his coronation by delivering his speech in English rather than French, which had been the court language since the Norman Conquest. This act symbolized a connection with the English people and marked an important cultural shift toward the vernacular.​

SENSE OF HUMOUR Henry's serious, burdened character and the political turmoil of his reign likely left little room for displays of levity.​

RELATIONSHIPS Henry married Mary de Bohun around 1380, with whom he had six children who survived infancy: Henry (later Henry V), Thomas, Duke of Clarence; John, Duke of Bedford; Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester; Philippa; and Blanche. Mary died in 1394 while giving birth to their daughter Philippa. 

On February 7, 1403,Henry married Joan of Navarre, daughter of King Charles II of Navarre, at Winchester Cathedral. It was a political alliance that developed into an affectionate relationship. Henry gave Joan an unprecedented 10,000 marks annually for her support, and she maintained good relationships with her stepchildren. 

Joan's funeral effigy in Canterbury Cathedral by Jonathan Cardy 

Henry's relationship with his eldest son, Prince Henry (Hal), was strained, particularly during Hal's wayward youth, though they reconciled before Henry's death.​

MONEY AND FAME Upon becoming king, Henry IV established the Duchy of Lancaster as a distinct entity held separately from other Crown possessions, ensuring it would provide independent income for future monarchs. The Duchy, valued today at over £652 million, still generates approximately £24 million annually for the reigning sovereign. 

Henry used Duchy revenues extensively for military purposes and to reward his followers, strengthening his precarious position as a usurper. His wealth from the Lancaster inheritance made him one of the richest men in England before his accession.​

His fame—both admired and feared—rested on his unseating of Richard II and his ability to hold the throne against rivals.

FOOD AND DRINK His tastes followed aristocratic norms: roasted meats, spiced dishes, and sweetened wine. In later years, illness restricted his diet.

MUSIC AND ARTS While not as renowned a patron as his son Henry V or later Tudor monarchs, Henry IV supported church music and commissioned works appropriate to his royal status. 

His reign saw the continuation of Lancastrian architectural patronage, particularly through the Duchy of Lancaster estates. 

The elaborate ceremonial of his coronation, featuring processions, choirs, and religious music, demonstrated the importance of artistic spectacle in legitimizing his rule.​

LITERATURE He encouraged clerks and chroniclers and supported devotional literature. Henry's own reading leaned toward chivalric and religious works.

NATURE Henry relished outdoor life in youth—hunting, hawking, and long-distance riding across his estates.

PETS Like most nobles, he kept hunting dogs and falcons.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Henry was an avid hunter and hawker, pursuits considered essential training for medieval noblemen. 

He was a highly proficient and accomplished jouster, often participating in medieval tournaments, demonstrating the chivalric prowess expected of a high nobleman

SCIENCE AND MATHS His interest in these fields was largely practical: astronomy for navigation, arithmetic for finance, and medical theories for understanding his ailments. Henry's reign predated the Renaissance flowering of scientific inquiry that would characterize later Tudor and Stuart periods.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Henry was deeply orthodox in his Catholic faith. His reign saw the introduction of the statute De heretico comburendo (1401), which mandated the burning of Lollard heretics at the stake. This action, driven partly by his personal piety and the influence of Archbishop Arundel, marked a dark turning point in religious persecution in England. 

Image by Gemini

Henry viewed his kingship through a theological lens, seeking divine approval and penance for his usurpation. He planned a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to atone for his sins, particularly the execution of Archbishop Scrope and founded Syon Abbey in 1415 as penance for Scrope's execution, though this was actually completed by his son.. 

According to Shakespeare, his death in the Jerusalem Chamber of Westminster Abbey fulfilled a prophecy that he would die in Jerusalem, which he had "vainly suppos'd the Holy Land". (3)

REIGN Henry IV of England reigned from 1399 to 1413, a period so crowded with rebellions, roadside ambushes, and general political mayhem that one wonders how he ever found time to eat lunch, let alone run a kingdom. His life reads rather like someone took every possible crisis available in medieval England and arranged them neatly, one after another, with Henry in the middle looking slightly harassed.

Henry came to the throne in the most straightforward way imaginable for a medieval monarch: he took it. After returning from exile in 1399—an exile imposed by his cousin Richard II, who was not, by general consensus, a man overburdened with popularity—Henry mustered an army, marched across England, and persuaded Richard to abdicate. (In medieval politics, “persuaded” usually meant something involving sharp objects.)

His coronation on October 13, 1399 made a small but delightful bit of linguistic history. Henry delivered part of his address in English—the first monarch to do so since the Norman Conquest. It was a sort of 14th-century version of speaking directly to the people, though without microphones, press coverage, or the danger of someone yelling about taxes.

Coronation of Henry IV, King of England

Once crowned, Henry discovered that being king was rather like owning a troublesome dog: everyone admired the idea, but the reality involved a lot of cleaning up messes. The country erupted into a series of rebellions, the most famous coming from the Percy family—Northumberland, Worcester, and the endlessly energetic Hotspur, who seemed to think warfare was a competitive sport.

Things escalated to actual battle at Shrewsbury in 1403, a lively and extremely unpleasant affair that left the king victorious but rather shaken. Hotspur died (heroically, if you ask Shakespeare; inconveniently, if you ask Henry). Meanwhile, in Wales, Owain Glyndŵr led a formidable rebellion that required numerous royal expeditions, most of which ended in mud, frustration, and the Welsh disappearing into the hills with admirable efficiency. Prince Henry—the future Henry V—eventually stamped things out, learning a great deal along the way about how to be a terrifyingly effective soldier.

Henry inherited the vast estates of the Duchy of Lancaster from his father, which sounded wonderful but proved to be something like inheriting a grand old house with enormous heating bills. War, patronage, and keeping disgruntled nobles onside were ruinously expensive, and Henry soon found himself in the embarrassing position of being a king who couldn’t pay for things.

Parliament, sensing opportunity, grew bolder and more powerful. The more often Henry arrived with his hat in his hand, the more they realised they could ask for in return. Thus the English parliamentary system took several large steps forward—mostly because the king was chronically short of cash.

Henry was a devoutly orthodox Catholic, and his reign marked a tougher line against heresy. In 1401 he approved De heretico comburendo, a statute allowing heretics to be burned at the stake. This was aimed chiefly at the Lollards, who had the misfortune of advocating reforms roughly five centuries before anyone felt ready for them.

For all the chaos, Henry IV managed some impressive feats. He founded the Lancastrian dynasty, faced down every rebellion hurled at him, and—unlike many kings of his era—never lost a battle. Yet he spent much of his reign financially embarrassed and physically unwell, and his struggles planted the seeds for the dynastic headaches that later blossomed into the Wars of the Roses.

His son Henry V succeeded him and promptly set about becoming one of England’s greatest military celebrities, beginning with Agincourt and continuing with practically every battlefield he could get his hands on.

POLITICS Henry's entire political career was defined by his usurpation of Richard II's throne, an act that cast doubt over his legitimacy throughout his reign. He faced continuous rebellions from powerful families, particularly the Percys, who had helped him gain the throne but turned against him when he failed to adequately reward them. His reign saw the ascendancy of parliamentary power as the legal basis for royal succession was contested. He maintained a precarious balance between appeasing powerful nobles and asserting royal authority, though his compromised moral position prevented him from being a truly great king.​

SCANDAL  The defining scandal of his life was the usurpation of the throne, leading to the imprisonment and death of Richard II, which cast a shadow over his entire reign and fueled the ensuing rebellions. His usurpation created a precedent for questioning royal legitimacy that would eventually lead to the Wars of the Roses.​

His execution of Richard Scrope, Archbishop of York, for treason in 1405 was also a profound political and religious scandal, as it was unprecedented for a king to execute an archbishop. The act  shocked contemporary opinion and which Henry later sought to atone for through religious foundations. 

MILITARY RECORD Henry had real battlefield credentials long before he wore the crown. His military life began in 1387, fighting alongside the Lords Appellants against Richard II. Over the next decade he sharpened his skills on crusading expeditions — first in the Baltic in 1390, then to the Holy Land in 1391 — and later led English knights at the ill-fated Battle of Nicopolis in 1396. He also saw action on the Scottish border, gaining a reputation as a tough, experienced commander.

His 1399 campaign to unseat Richard II was itself a display of strategic nerve: swift, disciplined, and effective enough to deliver him the throne.

Once king, Henry proved he was willing to lead from the front. He crushed the Epiphany Rising of 1399–1400 and, most famously, personally commanded the royal army at the Battle of Shrewsbury (July 21, 1403). There he fought in the thick of the action, defeated the Percy revolt, killed Hotspur, captured the Earl of Douglas, and secured the stability of his newly won crown.

Henry spent much of his reign in the saddle — campaigning in Wales against Owain Glyndŵr, enforcing authority along the Scottish border, and relying on the Duchy castles to maintain pressure and control.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS In youth his youth, Henry was robust and athletic. He contracted smallpox at age 20 but recovered. In his later years (from around 1405), Henry suffered from debilitating chronic illness. Symptoms included seizures, a severe, relapsing skin disease, and progressive weakness/pain in his legs that eventually required him to be carried in a litter or improvised chair. Various modern theories suggest coronary heart disease, inflammatory arthritis, or circulatory disorders, rather than the contemporary diagnosis of leprosy or syphilis. He was exhausted and incapacitated by the time of his death.

HOMES Henry was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, which remained in Lancastrian hands and served as an administrative centre. He inherited Kenilworth Castle through his father, which John of Gaunt had transformed into a spectacular Lancastrian residence. 

As king, he resided at Westminster Palace and various royal castles. The Duchy of Lancaster owned numerous castles throughout England that provided security and administrative bases.​

TRAVEL As Henry of Bolingbroke, he undertook:

Crusading expeditions with the Teutonic Knights to Prussia and Lithuania in 1390 and again in 1392, fighting in campaigns such as the assault on Vilnius and travelling widely around the Baltic region.​

Extended journeys across Europe, including to Flanders, France, and other continental courts, often combining tournaments, diplomacy, and crusading ventures.​

A pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1392–93, reaching Jerusalem, where he spent several days, made offerings at the Holy Sepulchre and the Mount of Olives, and vowed to lead a crusade to “free Jerusalem from the infidel”.​

For an English royal – and especially for someone who later became king – actually entering Jerusalem and visiting the Holy Sepulchre wasextraordinary and helped build his reputation for chivalry and militant piety

As king, Henry traveled extensively for military campaigns in Wales against Owain Glyndŵr and in Scotland for border wars. 

In 1413, while planning a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for penance, he fell ill at Westminster and died in the Jerusalem Chamber.​

DEATH Henry died on March 20, 1413, in the Jerusalem Chamber at Westminster Abbey, fulfilling a prophecy that he would die in Jerusalem. He had fallen unconscious while praying at the shrine of Saint Edward the Confessor and was carried to the chamber, where he awoke and realized his destiny was fulfilled. He was buried at Canterbury Cathedral alongside his second wife, Joan of Navarre, in a tomb featuring detailed alabaster effigies that provide accurate portraiture.​

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Henry IV appears as the title character in William Shakespeare's plays Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2, which explore his guilt, political insecurity, and relationship with his son Prince Hal. He has also been portrayed in numerous film and television adaptations of these plays, such as The Hollow Crown.

Henry also appears in various historical documentaries and biographical works examining the foundations of the Wars of the Roses.​

ACHIEVEMENTS First Lancastrian king of England

Stabilised the monarchy after Richard II’s fall

Strengthened Parliament’s financial oversight

Survived major rebellions

Maintained Lancastrian dominance, enabling the reign of Henry V

Sources (1) Tudor Travel Guide (2) World History (3) The Thornley Island Society