Editing Henry IV of England (section)

== Accession ==
After some hesitation, Henry met the exiled [[Thomas Arundel]], former [[archbishop of Canterbury]], who had lost his position because of his involvement with the [[Lords Appellant]].{{Sfn|Bevan|1994|page=51}} Henry and Arundel returned to England while Richard was on a military campaign in Ireland. With Arundel as his advisor, Henry began a military campaign, confiscating land from those who opposed him and ordering his soldiers to destroy much of [[Cheshire]]. Henry initially announced that he intended to reclaim his rights as [[Duke of Lancaster]], though he quickly gained enough power and support to have himself declared King Henry IV, imprison Richard (who died in prison, most probably forcibly starved to death,{{Sfn|Bevan|1994|page=72}}) and bypass Richard's [[heir-presumptive]], [[Edmund de Mortimer, 5th Earl of March]].{{Sfn|Bevan|1994|page=66}}
[[File:Coronation Henry4 England 02.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Coronation of Henry IV]]
Henry's 13 October 1399 coronation at Westminster Abbey{{Sfn|Bevan|1994|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=IJMYDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA67 67]}} may have been the first time since the [[Norman Conquest]] that the monarch made an address in English.

In January 1400, Henry quashed the [[Epiphany Rising]], a rebellion by Richard's supporters who plotted to assassinate him. Henry was forewarned and raised an army in London, at which the conspirators fled. They were apprehended and executed without trial.