BattlefieldsPercy revolt against Henry IV 1403
Medieval

Percy revolt against Henry IV 1403

1403
Shropshire, England
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Shropshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Hotspur (Henry Percy)
Forces
Hotspur c.10,000–14,000; Battle of Shrewsbury, decisive royal victory.
VS
Victor
Henry IV
Forces
Henry IV c.14,000–17,000
Outcome
Hotspur led northern revolt; ended at Battle of Shrewsbury; Earl of Northumberland eventually fled
The Battle

History & Significance

The Battle of Shrewsbury was a crucial moment in establishing Henry IV's legitimacy as king, as he successfully defeated a major baronial revolt led by the powerful Percy family. The death of the charismatic Hotspur (Henry Percy) in combat eliminated the most dangerous threat to Henry's recent usurpation of Richard II's throne. This victory prevented the fragmentation of royal authority and demonstrated that the new Lancastrian dynasty could enforce its will militarily against the English nobility.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Shropshire

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Shropshire