Editing Henry Percy (Hotspur) (section)

== Career ==
[[File:Coat of Arms of Henry Percy (Hotspur).svg|250px|left|thumb|Arms of Hotspur]]
Henry Percy was born 20 May 1364 at either [[Alnwick Castle]] or [[Warkworth Castle]] in [[Northumberland]], the eldest son of [[Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland]], and Margaret Neville, daughter of [[Ralph Neville, 2nd Baron Neville de Raby|Ralph de Neville, 2nd Lord Neville of Raby]], and Alice de Audley.<ref name="R_III-341_W">{{Harvnb|Richardson III|2011|p=341}}; {{Harvnb|Walker|2004}}.</ref> He was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] by [[Edward III of England|King Edward III]] in April 1377, together with the future kings [[Richard II of England|Richard II]] and [[Henry IV of England|Henry IV]].<ref name="R_III-341_C-713_W">{{Harvnb|Richardson III|2011|p=341}}; {{Harvnb|Cokayne|1936|p=713}}; {{Harvnb|Walker|2004}}.</ref> In 1380, he was in Ireland with the [[Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March|Earl of March]],<ref name="Walker">{{Harvnb|Walker|2004}}.</ref> and in 1383, he travelled in [[State of the Teutonic Order|Prussia]].<ref name="C-713_W">{{Harvnb|Cokayne|1936|p=713}}; {{Harvnb|Walker|2004}}.</ref> He was appointed [[Lord Warden of the Marches|Warden of the East March]] either on 30 July 1384 or in May 1385,<ref name="C-713_W" /> and in 1385 accompanied Richard II on an expedition into Scotland.<ref name="R_III-341_W" /> "As a tribute to his speed in advance and readiness to attack" on the Scottish borders, the Scots bestowed on him the name 'Haatspore'.<ref name="R_III-341_C-713_W" /> In April 1386, he was sent to France to reinforce the garrison at [[Calais]] and led raids into [[Picardy]]. Between August and October 1387, he was in command of a naval force in an attempt to relieve the siege of [[Brest, France|Brest]].<ref name="C-713_W" /> In appreciation of these military endeavours, at the age of 24 he was made a [[Order of the Garter|Knight of the Garter]] in 1388.<ref name="C-713_W" /> Reappointed as Warden of the East March, he commanded the English forces against [[James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas]], at the [[Battle of Otterburn]] on 10 August 1388, where he was captured, but soon ransomed for 7000 marks.<ref name="R_III-341_C-713_W" />

During the next few years Percy's reputation continued to grow. Although not 30, he was sent on a diplomatic mission to [[Cyprus]] in June 1393 and appointed [[Lieutenant of the Duchy of Aquitaine]] (1394–98) on behalf of [[John of Gaunt]], [[Duchy of Aquitaine|Duke of Aquitaine]].<ref name="R_III-341_C-713_W" /> He returned to England in January 1395, taking part in Richard II's expedition to Ireland, and was back in Aquitaine the following autumn. In the summer of 1396, he was again in Calais.<ref name="Walker" />

Percy's military and diplomatic service brought him substantial marks of royal favour in the form of grants and appointments,<ref name="C-713_W" /> but despite this, the Percy family decided to support Henry Bolingbroke, the future Henry IV, in his rebellion against Richard II. On Henry's return from exile in June 1399, Percy and his father joined his forces at [[Doncaster]] and marched south with them. After King Richard's deposition, Percy and his father were "lavishly rewarded" with lands and offices.<ref name="Walker" />

Under the new king, Percy had extensive civil and military responsibility in both the East March towards Wales, where he was appointed [[High Sheriff of Flintshire]] in 1399, and in the north toward Scotland. In north Wales, he was under increasing pressure as a result of the rebellion of [[Owain Glyndŵr]]. In March 1402, Henry IV appointed Percy royal lieutenant in north Wales, and on 14 September 1402, Percy, his father, and the [[George I, Earl of March|Earl of Dunbar and March]] defeated a Scottish force at the [[Battle of Humbleton Hill|Battle of Homildon Hill]]. Among others, they made a prisoner of [[Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas]].<ref name="R_III-341_W" />