Henry IV
/ˌhenri ðə ˈfɔːθ/
/ˌhenri ðə ˈfɔːrθ/
- (1366-1413) king of England (1399-1413) after his cousin Richard II. He was born Henry Bolingbroke, the son of John of Gaunt, and was a leading opponent of Richard's. In 1398 Richard sent him into exile, but in 1399 he returned to England, defeated Richard and was accepted as king by Parliament. While he was king there were rebellions against him in Wales and the north of England. He was forced to accept the principle that the king should govern through Parliament, and in 1407 Parliament took control of the country's financial affairs.