Henry IV, the royal succession and the crisis of 1406

Abstract

Investigations of Henry IV's reign have tended to concentrate on how he seized power, rather than how he governed. However, the period between 1403 and 1413 was no less dramatic and challenging for Henry than the initial years of his rule: he faced a series of rebellions, a financial crisis, deep-seated opposition in parliament, ill-health and a number of serious dilemmas relating to foreign policy. The essays here examine, and provide fresh interpretations of, both these particular aspects, and of broader topics adding to our understanding and government and society in the period, including the role of the lower clergy in parliament, and the mechanisms and scope of royal patronage