Run Up to the Battle of Shrewsbury: Richard II's Demise at the Hand of Henry IV, Owain Glendower, and Harry Hotspur: Pt. 11

There is a lot in this video instalment of the events in the period before the Battle of Shrewsbury. It includes Richard II's demise, at the hand of Henry IV, Owain Glendower, and Harry Hotspur. Harry Hotspur, joined up with Owain to fight Henry IV.

This page covers the events in our Part. 11, of the Story of Shrewsbury.

Watch our Part 11 story of Shrewsbury video below. However, if you prefer to read text, scroll on down, because we have added a transcription of our video below:

Only a year after Richard II had called another parliament to Shrewsbury, in 1399, he was imprisoned and deposed by the Duke of Lancaster.

Not content with unseating Richard II, he was soon murdered by the Duke, who then named himself King Henry IV.

By 1401, only 2 years after Henry II's Shrewsbury Parliament had reigned supreme, the Welsh Prince Owain Glendower commanded an uprising against Henry IV who he saw as an impostor.

On one occasion when Henry IV was on his way to attack Owain's men, it is said that Owain called down a gale of wind that blew down the king's tent.

As that happened it is said to have overturned his standard so heavily that the spear point entered the king's side.

Hostilities hotted-up further in 1402 when Owain Glendower agreed a coalition with a baron named  Harry Percy  (also known as Hotspur), and local landowners "the Mortimers".

Both Hotspur's rebel army, and the Royal army advanced upon Shrewsbury to do battle, but when Hotspur reached the suburbs he saw that Henry IV's banner was already flying above the castle battlements.

So, he retreated a little distance to the north of Shrewsbury, making camp in Little Berwick.
Hotspur wanted to avoid the battle starting, until Glendower could join him with another army.
But, he was not given the time because the very next day Henry IV marched his army out
to them and the Battle of Shrewsbury began.

Watch our Next Shrewsbury Story Video (Part 12) to find out what happened during the Battle of Shrewsbury!

Text based upon The Story of Shrewsbury, by Richard Graves, Hardwick House, Ellesmere 1993.

NOTE: While images of the main characters are referenced to that person, all other images are purely illustrative and for entertainment purposes.