Grab a copy of our NEW encyclopedia for Kids. Up to 1405 King Henry IV of England led a number of Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. After some hesitation, Henry finally decided on a military expedition to expel the imperial troops from Jülich, but whether he would have gone on to risk a new general war against the Habsburgs is unknown. Prior to that, he was known as Henry III of Navarre and ruled over the state from 1572 to 1610. Accomplishments or why King Henry IV was famous: Usurping the throne of England and imprisoning King Richard II (who died in prison under mysterious circumstances) Henry IV (French: Henri IV; 13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), also known by the epithet Good King Henry or Henry the Great, was King of Navarre (as Henry III) from 1572 and King of France from 1589 to 1610. On October 15, 1399, after his father had become king, Henry was created earl of Chester, duke of Cornwall, and prince of Wales, and … Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Henry of Lancaster gave promise of being able to develop a better rapport with his people than his predecessor, Richard II. Henry’s government eliminated the formidable national debt and realized a reserve of 18 million livres. Henry was the only child and heir of King Henry V.He was born on 6 December 1421 at Windsor Castle.He succeeded to the throne as King of England at the age of nine months on 1 September 1422, the day after his father's death; he remains the youngest person ever to succeed to the English throne. To revive the economy he undertook projects to develop agriculture, planting colonies of Dutch and Flemish settlers to drain the marshes of Saintonge. Henry was born in 1386 or 1387, the son of the future Henry IV. Meanwhile, Owain Glyn Dŵr encouraged domestic resistance to Henry’s rule by allying with the powerful Percy family—Henry Percy, earl of Northumberland, and his son Sir Henry Percy, called Hotspur. As a consequence, tension between Henry and the prince was high when Henry became totally incapacitated late in 1412. Henry IV (April 3 1367 – March 20 1413) was a King of England.He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, which is why he was often called "Henry Bolingbroke".. Rise to power. Henry IV died in 1413, and the 26-year-old prince took the … This policy stemmed from the wide experience that he had acquired during the conquest of the kingdom; acquainted with all the social classes of France, he knew what each one needed (he is traditionally credited with having desired for every labourer la poule au pot, a chicken to eat, every Sunday); and he used his geniality and his persuasive manner to win obedience. And though he was never an efficient administrator, his political insight, his willingness to enlist the cooperation of well-chosen ministers, and his understanding of his people made him an efficient ruler. He was born in September 1386 in Wales at Monmouth Castle, the son of the future Henry IV of England and his wife Mary de Bohun. Though he was not a great strategist, his courage and gallantry made him a great military leader. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Nevertheless, that claim did not convince those magnates who aspired to assert their authority at the crown’s expense. Henry IV of France, who ruled from 1589 till his death in 1610, was the first Bourbon monarch to sit on the throne of France. In the latter year difficulties arose with the Holy Roman emperor over the Cleves-Jülich succession. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Among Henry’s other able councillors were Nicolas Brulart de Sillery, Nicolas de Neufville, and Pierre Jeannin. He was the fourth son of William the Conqueror and was educated in Latin and the liberal arts.On William's death in 1087, Henry's elder brothers Robert Curthose and William Rufus inherited Normandy and England, respectively, but Henry was left landless. Grab a copy of our NEW encyclopedia for Kids! No matter what you do, it upsets someone and so throughout history, rulers have tried to find ways to increase their popularity. Though he succeeded in suppressing certain useless government offices, he consolidated many others by according the “annual right,” or paulette (1604), whereby the holder of an office could make it hereditary through yearly payments of one-sixtieth of the price he had originally paid for it. The new queen gave birth on Sept. 27, 1601, to the dauphin, the future Louis XIII, and eventually to four other children. He also…. Henry IV had united the kingdom and achieved peace at home and abroad. From 1401 to 1406, King Henry IV was accused time and again by parliament of mismanaging the money. He grew up fond of music and reading and became the first English king who could both read and write with ease in the vernacular tongue. Henry IV was the only son of John of Gaunt, the son of Edward III, and Blanche, the daughter of Henry Grismond, Duke of Lancaster. Henry also took part in a notable conspiracy against Richard's closest associates earlier in his reign. Corrections? Henry IV, also called (until 1572) Prince de Béarn, byname Henry of Navarre, or Henry of Bourbon, French Henri de Navarre, or Henry de Bourbon, (born Dec. 13, 1553, Pau, Béarn, Navarre [France]—died May 14, 1610, Paris, France), king of Navarre (as Henry III, 1572–89) and first Bourbon king of France (1589–1610), who, at the end of the Wars of Religion, abjured Protestantism and converted to Roman … To finance these military activities, Henry was forced to rely on parliamentary grants. Birth and Early Life . He was a warrior of great renown who had traveled to Jerusalem and had fought in Prussia against infidels. Although the worst of Henry’s political troubles were over, he then began to suffer from an affliction that his contemporaries believed to be leprosy—it may have been congenital syphilis. A great French success was the mediation between Spain and the United Provinces of the Netherlands, which led to the conclusion of the Twelve Years’ Truce in 1609. He was the first monarch of the Lancastrian dynasty. A quickly suppressed insurrection, led by Northumberland in 1408, was the last armed challenge to Henry’s authority. Henry IV of England ascended the throne on 30th September 1399. However, he was unable to overcome the fiscal and administrative weaknesses that contributed to the eventual downfall of the Lancastrian dynasty. His many amours earned him the appellation of le vert galant (“the gay old spark”). During the opening years of the reign of King Richard II (ruled 1377–99), Henry remained in the background while his father ran the government. 1366, Bolingbroke Castle, Lincolnshire, England—died March 20, 1413, London), king of England from 1399 to 1413, the first of three 15th-century monarchs from the house of Lancaster. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-IV-king-of-England Although he was himself a convert, Henry managed to reassure the Protestants and to grant them privileges in the state while at the same time promoting the Roman Catholic Counter-Reformation, protecting the monastic orders, and improving the recruitment of the Roman Catholic clergy in France. King Henry IV of England was the King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1399 to 1413. Henry IV became heir to the French throne through his marriage to Margaret of Valois but was challenged during a time of religious strife. Omissions? Henry IV was the first of the Bourbon dynasty. Henry of Lancaster gave promise of being able to develop a better rapport with his people than his predecessor, Richard II. If you're an English king, then this may well mean trying to act like Eventually, they … King Henry V, warrior king, shining example of medieval kingship and a living legend. Pope Clement VIII’s annulment of Henry’s marriage to Margaret of Valois made it possible for him to marry the princess of Tuscany, Marie de Médicis, in October 1600. Henry led a number of fruitless expeditions into Wales from 1400 to 1405, but his son, Prince Henry (later Henry V), had greater success in reasserting royal control over the region. One standard option is to emulate the actions of a former, popular monarch. His lineage was impressive with notable ancestors such as John of Gaunt and Edward III. Henry then made an alliance with the French faction that was waging war against the prince’s Burgundian friends. His reign was marked by the development of parliamentary government in England. By the time of Henry’s…, …negotiate with the Huguenot leader, Henry of Navarre (afterward. Henry I (c. 1068 – 1 December 1135), also known as Henry Beauclerc, was King of England from 1100 to his death in 1135. Henry was the eldest surviving son of John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, by his first wife, Blanche. During the first five years of his reign, Henry was attacked by a formidable array of domestic and foreign enemies. Henry IV’s ascendancy to the throne of France was mired with controversy. Being a monarch is tough. Henry is one of the most popular figures in French history for his amorous propensities as well as his political achievements. Updates? Henry IV Henry IV (1367-1413), the king of England from 1399 to 1413, was the first monarch of the Lancastrian dynasty. Eight months later the Welsh landowner Owain Glyn Dŵr raised a rebellion against oppressive English rule in Wales. Under the direction of Sully, new highways and canals were constructed to aid the flow of commerce. Bolingbroke then went on Crusade into Lithuania (1390) and Prussia (1392). During his years as the Monarch, Henry IV of England had to stamp out many rebellions. He died several months later, and the prince succeeded as King Henry V. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. He was able to force Savoy to sign the Treaty of Lyons (1601), thereby acquiring Bresse, Bugey, and other pieces of territory on France’s eastern border. He was assassinated in Paris on May 14, 1610, by a fanatical Roman Catholic named François Ravaillac. He now proceeded to bring order and prosperity back to France. Centuries ahead of his own time, he said, “Those who follow their consciences are of my religion, and I am of the religion of those who are brave and good.” Too often misunderstood during his lifetime, his tragic end seemed finally to have opened the eyes of his people. Cloud (4 August 1589) to consider in the near future a possible Catholic conversion, coupled with decisive military victories at Arques (21 September 1589) and Ivry (14 March 1590), shored up public support for him. He gained the crown by usurpation and successfully consolidated his power in the face of repeated uprisings of powerful nobles. Henry IV’s foreign policy, without being aggressive toward Spain, was designed to diminish Spanish influence in Europe. The restoration of royal authority was not, of course, simply a matter of adjusting theories of kingship; there was a clear practical reason for Henry’s success. He was a warrior... Henry IV, detail of a manuscript illumination from Jean Froissart's. 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