|
 Henry IV
(1367-1413), son of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, was the
first king of the House of Lancaster.
He was often called Henry of Bolingbroke.
He defeated his cousin, King Richard II, in 1399, and
parliament elected him king.
Henry admitted that parliament had the right to choose the
king. This admission
formed an important increase in parliamentary power.
Revolts
and conspiracies marred Henry's reign, but he put them down with
great effort. He
encouraged towns to develop, and helped England's growing trade.
However, he was intolerant of religious differences, and
persecuted the Lollards. |
