1399 Henry IV crowned Henry Bolingbroke son of John of Gaunt (fourth son of Edward III) and Blanche of Lancaster. Henry came to the English throne by force. He made his cousin Richard ll, abdicate, imprisoned him and then seized the crown himself. This started a dispute between the House of Lancaster and the House of York.

1400 Richard II died Richard died in captivity quite possibly he starved to death.

1400 - 1409 Owain Glyn Dwr leads Welsh revolt against the English Owain Glyn Dwr had served in Richard II's army in the 1380s and it may even have been loyalty to the deposed king that encouraged him to lead a revolt against Henry IV.

1401 Statute 'De Heritico Comburendo' Fear of home grown Lollard heresy. Many Lollards saved themselves from death by recanting their opinions. Henry Prince of Wales personally supervized the burning of the Lollards.

1402 Death of the Duke of York Edward III’s son Edmund of Langley, Duke of York, died. His son Edward inherited the title Duke of York.

1403 Percy family rebellion The Percy family supported Henry in the other throw of Richard and he paid them well but not well enough. They turned their backs on him and backed Mortimer. Mortimer (1376-1413) was the uncle of Richard II’s legitimate heir, the earl of March (d. 1428). He had been captured by the French-backed Welsh rebel Owen Glendower (c. 1359-1416) and persuaded to make common cause against Henry. The Percys dispatched an army to join Glendower, but it was intercepted en route by royalist forces under Henry IV and his son, Prince Hal (1387-1422, later Henry V). On July 21, 1403, the armies clashed in the Battle of Shrewsbury. The Percys were defeated before Glendower could reinforce them.

1405 Execution of the Archbishop of York The Earl of Nottingham rebels, his chief supporter was Scrope Archbishop of York. The rebellion was easily suppressed and a summary trial was held without evidence heard and both men were executed. The Pope feebly remonstrated but Henry took no notice such was the decline in the church since Becket's day.

1406 Pressure from parliament King Henry was repeatedly asking for taxes from the Commons and they in turn used their power over taxes to cticize him and those around him. In 1406 they persuaded the king to sign a petition of 31 articles which bound him to consult a council who in turn were controlled by regulations imposed by parliament before any decisions were taken.

1408 Rebellion of Northumberland The last of the baronial revolts until the War of the Roses. Northumberland was put down and slain at Bramham Moor.

1408 King Henry IV falls ill For the last 5 yrs of his reign the king's illness prevents him from carrying out his duties.

1411 Suggestion that the Prince of Wales should become king. The Prince in 1412 has to deny he was plotting to seize the crown.

1413 Death of King Henry IV His son Henry will become King Henry V.

1413 Sir John Oldcastle Sir John Oldcastle a man of great wealth and learning was the leading Lollard in England. King Henry V put him on trial and he was condemned to burn but he escaped from the Tower and was determined to raise a revolt against the king.

1414 Lollard rebellion The Lollards were followers of the church reformer John Wyclif. They were tolerated under King Richard II but were persecuted under King Henry IV. The 1414 rebellion of Lollard knights, led by Sir John Oldcastle, was easily suppressed by Henry V.

1414 Council of Constance The Council of Constance proclaimed the superiority of councils over popes. It operated as a convention of 'nations' the English, French, German and Italian, with one vote each in decisions.

1414 Oldcastle's plot Oldcastle plotted to kill the king during his Christmas holiday at Eltham. The king heard about the plot and moved to London. In January 1414 the rebels prepared to strike and gathered in St Giles Fields near Charing Cross but the king met them with a strong force. Oldcastle and others escaped but 37 were hanged. Oldcastle survived for 4 yrs but was captured eventually.

1415 Act merging titles of Duchy of Lancaster with the crown An act was passed that declared that the lands and titles of the Duchy of Lancaster should be merged with the crown

1415 Southampton Plot The Southampton Plot was intended to overthrow King Henry V as he disembarked for France and replace him with Edmund Mortimer, heir to Richard II. He acted swiftly and had the perpetrators put on trial and executed. This quick action on his behalf secured him as monarch.

1415 Battle of Agincourt In a claim to the French throne King Henry V landed in Normandy and besieged the port of Harfleur. The French gathered an army to oppose him at Agincourt but thanks to the skill of his long bow archers Henry defeated them.

1417 Oldcastle's death Oldcastle was executed at Smithfield London. His revolt never succeeded and Lollardy did not gain hold in England.

1420 Treaty of Troyes The treaty drawn up and sealed in Troyes Cathedral. The french king Charles VI was forced to disinherit his own son the Dauphin in favour of his daughter Catherine who married King Henry V. Henry was declared heir to the kingdom of France.

1421 Dauphin's armies attack the English Henry returned to England to crown his Queen and the Dauphin attacked the English army. The Duke of Clarence, Henry's brother pursued the enemy into Anjou and the French won a battle at Bauge. The Duke of Clarence was killed.

1422 Death of King Henry V Henry had returned to France but he was exhausted and his early death was unexpected.

1422 Regents Bedford and Gloucester The early death at 36 years left his son Henry at about 1 yr old heir to both kingdoms. King Henry V decreed that his brother, John, Duke of Bedford, should be regent of France and his brother Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester should be regent of England.

1428 Siege of Orleans Bedford was under pressure from the the French Charles son of Charles VI who claimed the French crown. The Earl of Salisbury argued that Bedford must strike at the heart of the usurpers stronghold and attacked at Orleans. Salisbury was killed and Lord Suffolk was left to face a French army led by Joan of Arc.

1429 Relief of Orleans With the Maid, Joan of Arc at its head the French army stormed Orleans and entered the city. The English retreated.

1431 Death of Joan of Arc The Burgundians captured Joan and sold her to the English. Bedford was determined on her death, proclaiming her to be a witch. After a long trial before a court of inquisition she was declared as a witch and handed her over to the Earl of Warwick who had her burnt to death at Rouen.

1435 Burgundy changes sides The defection of Burgundy who now throw their weight behind Charles means England are losing the fight for France. A treaty is signed between the French and Burgundians at Arras.

1435 Death of Bedford The Duke of Bedford died a few days after the signing of the treaty at Arras.

1435 - 1455 Period of retreat abroad and controversy at home. The financial situation in England was worsening putting pressure on the English skirmishes in France. The struggle of rival lords after Bedford's death caused problems.

1437 Henry VI attained his majority Henry made free with grants of lands, office and fees. He elbowed out the Duke of Gloucester and put his own friends such as the Earl of Suffolk who had great influence over the king.

1445 Truce with France The Earl of Suffolk negotiates a truce with France.

1445 King Henry VI marriage A marriage between Henry and Margaret of Anjou, neice to Charles VII at the price of surrender of Maine to the french king.

1447 Death of the Duke of Gloucester The new Queen sided with Suffolk and Beaufort who accused the Gloucester with treason. He was charged at Bury and died in prison.

1450 Loss of Normandy The financial situation in England meant large armies could not be mustered. The french had superior arms and Normandy was lost.

1450 Murder of Suffolk Suffolk was blamed for the loss of Normandy. He was impeached by parliament and condemned for treason. He fled across the channel but his ship was boarded by unknown murderers who beheaded him. The king was distraught but failed to find the murderers.

1450 Cades rebellion Jack Cade led a rebellion whose objective was to correct public abuses and remove evil councellors. The rebels entered London and in the fighting that ensued many of Suffolk's friends were killed but the revolt failed and Cade was arrested and executed.

1453 Gascony lost The rich province of Gascony was lost only Calais remains.

1453 End of the Hundred Years War The long war with France begun by King Edward III has come to the end.

1453 Madness of King Henry VI The king could not speak or move and the Duke of York was appointed Protector of the Realm.

1453 Birth of the Prince of Wales The son of the king deprived the Duke of York of his hope of succeeding his cousin on the throne.

1454 Recovery of the king The king recovers his reason and dismissed York. The Queen sees the threat and the two sides prepare for battle.

1455 Battle of St Albans The first battle of the War of the Roses York is victorious but the king suffers from madness again and York is made protector again but after 3 yrs the king recovers and the queen is determined he will not usurp her son and he is sent packing. The Yorkists take up arms again but flee into exile when they are out armed.

1455 - 1461 The fall of the House of Lancaster It began with the appeal to arms made by the Duke of York. Henry VI was a weak ruler dominated by his favourites so as a result poor governance of the country. Stakes were high and the noblemen were reluctant to fight. Only small numbers of lorded families engaged and yet many of them felt alienated. The Duke of York was seen as their chance to be rid of the king.

1459 Parliament of Devils This parliament was packed with Lancastrians and condemned York, Salisbury and Warwick by an Act of Attainder which declared them guilty without a trial and sentenced them to lose their lives and estates.

1460 The exiles invade England At Northampton Warwick beat a Lancastrian army and captured the kIng. Aparliament was called to recognize Yorks claim to the throne. They knew the Queen would never allow this to happen and so it proved.

1460 Battle of Wakefield Duke Richard and Salisbury were slain. The Queen was victorious, she turned south towards Warwick and at St Albans fought a second battle where she defeated Warwick and recaptured the King.

1461 Battle of Mortimer's Cross Yorks eldest son Edward won a battle against the Welsh Lancastrians. He executed his prisoners including Owen Tudor. He joined Warwick marched on London and Edward was proclaimed King.

1461 King Edward IV Edward Earl of March was proclaimed King. So ended the House of Lancaster.

1461 Battle of Towton Edward marched north to confront the Queen and defeated her at the Battle of Towton. The King and Queen and their son fled to Scotland. Warwick the kingmaker brought huge influence to the wealthy young King.

1464 King Edward's marriage The King married Elizabeth Woodville much to the anger of Warwick.

1464 Last rally of the Lancastrians. Battle of hexham. The Queen twice invaded Northumberland but Warwick defeated them.

1465 King Henry VI captured King Henry a fugitive in the north was captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London.

1469 Rebellion of Warwick and Clarence Edward's brother Clarence and the Warwick plotted against the King and found support among some powerful people including the Nevilles. The King was captured.

1470 Warwick releases the King The King turned on Warwick and Clarence and had them declared traitors. They fled into exile.