Editing House of Lancaster (section)

==Reign of Henry IV==

There is much debate among historians about Henry's accession, in part because some see it as a cause of the Wars of the Roses. For many historians, the accession by force of the throne broke principles the Plantagenets had established successfully over two and a half centuries and allowed any magnate with sufficient power and Plantagenet blood to have ambitions to assume the throne. Richard had attempted to disinherit Henry and remove him from the succession. In response, Henry's legal advisors, led by [[William Thirning]], dissuaded Henry from claiming the throne by right of conquest and instead look for legal justification.<ref name=Mortimer2012p297>{{harvnb|Mortimer|2012|p=297}}</ref> Although Henry established a committee to investigate his assertion that his mother had legitimate rights through descent from Edmund Crouchback, who he said was the elder son of Henry III of England but was set aside because of deformity, no evidence was found. The eight-year-old [[Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March|Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March]], was the [[heir general]] to Richard II by being the great-grandson of Edward III's second son, [[Lionel of Antwerp, 1st Duke of Clarence]], and also the son of Richard's last nominated heir. In desperation, Henry's advisors made the case that Henry was [[heir male]] to Henry III and this was supported by thirteenth-century entails.<ref name=Mortimer2012p298>{{harvnb|Mortimer|2012|pp=298–299}}</ref> Mortimer's sister [[Anne de Mortimer]] married [[Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge]], son of Edward III's fourth son [[Edmund of Langley]], consolidating Anne's place in the succession with that of the more junior [[House of York]].<ref name=Weir1995p235>{{harvnb|Weir|1995|p=235}}</ref> As a child, Mortimer was not considered a serious contender and, as an adult, he showed no interest in the throne. He instead loyally served the House of Lancaster. Mortimer informed Henry V when Conisburgh, in what was later called the [[Southampton Plot]], attempted to place him on the throne instead of Henry's newly crowned son{{mdash}}their mutual cousin{{mdash}}leading to the execution of Conisburgh and the other plotters.<ref>{{harvnb|Griffiths|2008}}.</ref>

Henry IV was plagued with financial problems, the political need to reward his supporters, frequent rebellions and declining health{{mdash}}including [[leprosy]] and [[epilepsy]].<ref>{{harvnb|Swanson|1995|p=298}}.</ref> The [[House of Percy|Percy family]] had been some of Henry's leading supporters, defending the North from Scotland largely at their own expense, but revolted in the face of lack of reward and suspicion from Henry. [[Henry Percy (Hotspur)]] was defeated and killed at the [[Battle of Shrewsbury]]. In 1405, Hotspur's father [[Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland]], supported [[Richard Scrope (bishop)|Richard le Scrope]], [[Archbishop of York]], in another rebellion, after which the elder Percy fled to Scotland and his estates were confiscated. Henry had Scrope executed in an act comparable to the murder of another Archbishop{{mdash}}[[Thomas Becket]]{{mdash}}by men loyal to Henry II. This would probably have led to Henry's excommunication, but the church was in the midst of the [[Western Schism]], with competing popes keen on Henry's support; it protested but took no action.<ref name=Weir1995p49>{{harvnb|Weir|1995|p=49}}</ref> In 1408, Percy invaded England once more and was killed at the [[Battle of Bramham Moor]].<ref name=Lee1997p138>{{harvnb|Lee|1997|pp=138–141}}</ref> In Wales, [[Owain Glyndŵr]]'s widespread rebellion was only suppressed with the recapture of [[Harlech Castle]] in 1409, although sporadic fighting continued until 1421.<ref name=Davies1995p293>{{harvnb|Davies|1995|p=293}}</ref>

Henry IV was succeeded by his son [[Henry V of England|Henry V]],<ref name=Weir2008p130>{{harvnb|Weir|2008|p=130}}</ref> and eventually by his grandson [[Henry VI of England|Henry VI]] in 1422.<ref name=Weir2008p133>{{harvnb|Weir|2008|p=133}}</ref>