This history covers the events surrounding Henry IV’s deposition
of his cousin, Richard II in England in 1399. Both were grandsons of Edward III and Richard
became king at the age of nine and as an adult remained indifferent to England’s external threats
from France and Scotland. A worsening crisis erupted with Richard’s lavish
expenditures, self-indulgence, and his broad accusations of treason leading to
the execution of an earl. Henry finally
seized the throne and imprisoned Richard after Richard had exiled him without
trial and confiscated Henry’s inheritance. Although Henry had strong support
from the major magnates and was a dutiful king, he also experienced a serious
rebellion during his reign and relied heavily on his strong-willed son, the
future Henry V, as his health deteriorated. This was an interesting book, and
relates very well the political issues of the time, such as the financial
crunch faced by England’s government and the evolving power of parliaments and the executive in
their constitution.
