Yorkists and Lancs BP1

When and what was the Epiphany Rising?

Jan 1400, a plan to kill HIV and all 4 sons at a tournament in Windsor, use a RII lookalike and restore RII to the throne. HIV easily quenched it and had 26 beheaded with many fleeing to the West Country.

How had HIV made himself to seem like an ‘anti-Richard’?

He had pulled his Treason Laws, reinstating laws of Edward III, promise and actually act upon ‘ruling justly and openly’ and keep Richard and his supporters alive.

How had Henry Bolingbroke taken the English throne?

After RII had taken all of his lands away after his father JOG died, RII went to Ireland to quench a crisis. Which Bolingbroke used to then gather a small army whilst in exile and invade, arriving in southern wales before marching on London. No resistance from RII forces as his lord protector DOY was indecisive about what faction to join. RII was usurped and imprisoned until his death in Feb 1400.

What and when was the Welsh Revolt? Any early success?

Started in 1400, not long after HIV’s usurpation. Started when Owain Gln Dwr claimed himself Prince of Wales and begins a revolt with Guerrilla Campaigns beginning against the English; attacking in summer and hiding in the mountains in winter. And by summer 1401, North Wales was completely under Gln Dwr’s control.

When and what was the Battle of Bryn Glas? What had it led to?

June 1402, the first direct assault on English by the Welsh as Guerrilla tactics were used beforehand. Only 1,000 Welsh to 2,500 English, though a group of English soldiers were hired Welsh archers, who inevitably turned on the English once they charged in. With heavy numbers of English being cut down. Bryn Glas was a vital battle in the WR as it gave Glyndwr the opportunity to take numerous castles in Wales and later on control the whole region of Wales.

Why was Harlech Castle so important? How was it taken?

After Glndwr took all of Wales by 1403, only Harlech Castle was the last standing English controlled castle. It was heavily fortified, which resulted in Glndwr laying siege to it with help from French contributions in Troops and Trebuches. With Welsh soldiers screaming punishments the English would get when they take the castle as intimidation, also throwing limestone and dead animals into the walls to cause burns and to help cause disease amongst soldiers. After 3 months there were only 20 people left in Harlech and on 23rd April 1404, Glndwr stormed and took it over. Though was taken back by Hal in 1407.

Would most consider the WR a success or failure for HIV?

A devastating failure, they had lost control of all of wales in just 3 years and had his more than double the size force compared to Glndwr’s heavily defeated due to his tactics. One of his armies, led by Edmund Mortimer, was held at ransom, which HIV denied because he couldn’t afford it and that Mortimer was linked to RII. Resulting in Mortimer switching sides and marrying Glndwr’s daughter.

What happened in 1405 with Glndwr and his new allies?

Glndwr, after taking Harlech, held a Welsh parliament with French and Scottish representatives. With France giving 2500 troops and signing a treaty with him. Franco-Welsh army close to Worcester but withdrew before HIV’s army got near Worcester.

It had also seen the 2 Mortimer brothers escape from HIV, though he responded quickly, dropping everything to go pursue them. Also with the Tripartite Indenture between Glndwr, Edmund Mortimer and the Earl of Northumberland meaning a greater scale of threat for HIV in England rather than Wales.

What resulted in the end of the WR in 1409?

The fall of Harlech, with Edmund Mortimer being killed and Glndwr once again vanishing, as he always does. But this time he doesn’t come back, though his wife and daughters were taken to London.

Why had the Percy’s broken out in rebellion in 1403?

Mainly because the family had been vital in the defence of the Scottish border, yet they had received no wages or payments for this defence and were owed ~£20,000 from the king from this defence and from their help in the 1399 usurpation.

Also because Henry Percy’s ‘Hotspur’ brother in law was Edmund Mortimer, who had defected to Glndwr’s side because HIV didn’t want to pay his ransom, so the Percies had links to the Welsh cause.

What happened In the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403 ?

It had seen the Percy army make ground, with Cheshire archers raining down on the royal forces, resulting in HIV himself to pull back in fear of being cut down. HIV’s flag bearer (Walter Blount) is killed by Hotspur and thinks he will be king. Though English army retreats and flanks on the left hand side, killing Hotspur, Thomas Percy is beheaded. Hal leading the royal army managed to outmanoeuvre the Percy’s, though is hit in the face by an arrow in the battle.

What was the main consequence of the Percy Challenge? Are there any others?

It had led to Henry Percy (Earl of Northumbria) signing the Tripartite Indenture with Mortimer and Glndwr in 1405, swearing to overthrow HIV and split the country in 3, with each person controlling either the North (Henry Percy), the South (Edmund Mortimer) and Wales (Glndwr).

It also led to the Archbishop Le Scrope from York being beheaded for treason for being a close ally to Henry Percy. He was out on trial for treason before being beheaded, though many people told HIV not to kill him as God would punish him for it for providential reasons.

By 1405 HIV becomes increasingly ill and dies by 1413, with many nobles transferring power to HV early as they all knew HIV was unfit to rule. Providential consequences had had its impact on the King.

Why was HIV able to survive as king, even with the usurper title on his head?

Because he was very pragmatic (thought and acted sensibly and realistically), being able to deflate problems with negotiation (taking criticism from parliament to get taxes) but can be decisive when needed (denying Percies their money due to fear of a domino effect). Though his illness renders him unable to rule from 1405 to his death in 1413.

How did foreign relations influence HIV’s rule?

Both Scotland and France used his usurper status to attack him.

Louis Duke of Orleans (younger brother of king Charles the Mad) wrote letters scrutinising Henry, refusing to call him King, challenging him to a duel and accusing him of killing RII. Though Louis had been a large supporter of HIV for a long time before his usurpation. Also An invasion of France was also held off because of the Welsh Rebellion.

The Scots used the usurper title aswell, with Robert III hosting the ‘Mammet’, a person meant to be RII, who most knew wasn’t, as if he were still alive. They also wrote to HIV as the ‘Steward of England’ instead of King, massively undermining him. The Scot’s also began raiding the North, so HIV had to organise 15,000 troops up north to defend the border. There were also Scottish members in Glndwr’s parliament in Harlech castle.

Though he used Marriages to his advantage. He married Joan of Navarre in 1402, as she was widowed to the Duke of Brittany (it was semi-independent from France), helping him establish an ally against France. His daughters came in handy too, with Philippa, his daughter, being married to the king of Norway Denmark and Sweden, giving England branches of allies.