# Henry IV of England

> King of England from 1399 to 1413

**Wikidata**: [Q161866](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q161866)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_IV_of_England)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/henry-iv-of-england

## Summary
Henry IV of England was the King of England from 1399 to 1413, ruling during the late medieval period of British history. He is also known by his birth name, Henry Bolingbroke, and his reign marked a significant transition in English monarchy following the deposition of Richard II.

## Biography
- **Born:** Not specified in source material
- **Nationality:** English (King of the Kingdom of England)
- **Education:** Not specified in source material
- **Known for:** Ruling as King of England; establishing the House of Lancaster on the English throne
- **Employer(s):** Kingdom of England (as monarch)
- **Field(s):** Monarchy; Royalty; Medieval governance

## Contributions
- **Reign as King of England (1399-1413):** Served as the monarch of the Kingdom of England for approximately 14 years, succeeding Richard II and founding the Lancastrian dynasty
- **Establishment of Lancastrian Rule:** Became the first king of the House of Lancaster to rule England, fundamentally altering the succession of the English throne

## FAQs
**What was Henry IV of England's birth name?**
Henry IV of England was born Henry Bolingbroke, a name he used before assuming the regnal title Henry IV upon becoming king.

**How long did Henry IV of England rule?**
He ruled as King of England from 1399 until his death in 1413, a reign spanning approximately 14 years.

**What is Henry IV of England known for?**
He is known for deposing Richard II and becoming the first Lancastrian king of England, establishing a new dynasty that would shape English politics for decades.

**What aliases did Henry IV of England use?**
He was known by several names including Henry Bolingbroke, Henry IV, King Henry IV, King Henry IV of England, and King Henry Bolingbroke.

**Was Henry IV of England a monarch?**
Yes, he was a monarch—the person at the head of a monarchy—specifically serving as King of England.

## Why They Matter
Henry IV of England's significance lies in his role as the first Lancastrian king of England, which fundamentally changed the trajectory of English royal succession. His deposition of Richard II in 1399 set a precedent that would have lasting implications for the concept of royal legitimacy in England. The House of Lancaster's rise to power under his rule would eventually lead to the Wars of the Roses, one of the most consequential periods of civil conflict in English history. His reign represented a shift from the Plantagenet dynasty to the Lancastrian line, influencing the political landscape of medieval England for generations.

## Notable For
- First king of the House of Lancaster to rule England (1399-1413)
- Deposed Richard II, establishing the precedent of monarch deposition
- Ruled the historic Kingdom of England, which existed from 927 to 1649 (with a brief interruption)
- One of 273 documented human individuals in the provided knowledge framework
- Monarch classification with 96 similar entities in the knowledge structure

## Body

### Early Life and Accession
Henry IV of England, born Henry Bolingbroke, ascended to the English throne in 1399 following the deposition of King Richard II. This event marked a pivotal moment in English medieval history, as it represented the first time a reigning English king was deposed by a cousin who then claimed the throne. Henry Bolingbroke was the son of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, which connected him directly to the royal bloodline through Edward III.

### Reign and Governance
As King of England from 1399 to 1413, Henry IV ruled the Kingdom of England—a historic kingdom on the British Isles that existed from 927 to 1649, with a brief interruption between 1649 and 1660. His reign lasted approximately 14 years, during which he established the Lancastrian dynasty as a new ruling house in England. The Kingdom of England, his domain, was historically situated as a nation-state on the British Isles, with its territorial boundaries evolving throughout the medieval period.

### Historical Significance
Henry IV's rule represented a significant transition in English monarchy. As a monarch—a person at the head of a monarchy—he occupied one of the most powerful positions in medieval European governance. His classification as a human being places him within Homo sapiens, the unique extant species of the genus Homo, connecting him to the broader human story while his specific role as king distinguished him within that species.

### Legacy and Historical Connections
The House of Lancaster's establishment under Henry IV would have far-reaching consequences for English history. His reign set the stage for subsequent Lancastrian kings, including Henry V, who would pursue aggressive policies in the Hundred Years' War against France. The political instability generated by his seizure of the throne contributed to the eventual dynastic conflict known as the Wars of the Roses. As part of the Kingdom of England, which had 92 sitelinks in the knowledge structure indicating its significance, Henry IV's actions reverberated throughout English and European history.

### Identity and Classification
Henry IV of England is identified through multiple aliases: Henry Bolingbroke, Henry IV, King Henry IV, King Henry IV of England, and King Henry Bolingbroke. These different names reflect the complex identity of medieval English monarchs, who often had personal birth names distinct from their regnal titles. His classification as a monarch places him among 96 similar entities in the knowledge framework, while his identification as a human places him among 273 documented individuals—a testament to his position as a historical figure of significant note. The 73 sitelinks associated with his Wikipedia entry indicate substantial documentation of his life and reign across multiple language editions of the online encyclopedia.

## References

1. [Source](http://castlestudiestrust.org/docs/Bolingbroke-castle-report.pdf)
2. Integrated Authority File
3. Source
4. The Peerage
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. BnF authorities
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. [British Broadcasting Corporation](http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/henry_iv_king.shtml)
9. Henry IV's date of birth and the royal Maundy
10. [Source](http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/henry_iv_king.shtml)
11. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
12. BBC Things
13. CERL Thesaurus
14. [Source](https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/enrico-iv-re-d-inghilterra)
15. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
16. Enciclopedia Treccani
17. LIBRIS. 2012
18. Dizionario di Storia
19. [Source](https://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo/Henryk-IV;3911076.html)
20. Sejm-Wielki.pl
21. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
22. Catalogo of the National Library of India