Having seized the throne from his cousin Richard II in 1399, Henry Bolingbroke, the first nobleman to be made king of England since the twelfth century, faced the remarkable challenge of securing his power and authority over a kingdom that was divided and in turmoil. This collection of essays - the first such collection focusing specifically on the reign of the first Lancastrian king - by some of the leading historians of late medieval England, takes a fresh look at the crucial but neglected first years of Henry IV's reign, examining how Henry met and overcame the challenges which his usurpation created. Topics covered include a reappraisal of the events surrounding the revolution of 1399; Henry's relations with his northern magnates; the Yorkshire rising of 1405; the 'Long Parliament' of 1406 and the nature and purpose of the king's council. This collection adds significantly to an understanding of the character of Henry IV, as well as the circumstances in which he ruled, and will be essential for anyone with an interest in late medieval English political history. Dr GWILYM DODD is Lecturer in History at the University of Nottingham; Dr DOUGLAS BIGGS teaches at the Department of History at Waldorf College. Contributors: M. ARVANIGIAN, MICHAEL J. BENNETT, DOUGLAS BIGGS, JOEL BURDEN, GWILYM DODD, ANTHONY GOODMAN, ANDY KING, CYNTHIA J. NEVILLE, A.J.TUCK, SIMON K. WALKER.

Groundbreaking new essays provide a wealth of insight into a less-explored period of Henry's reign. Investigations of Henry IV's reign have tended to concentrate on how he seized power, rather than how he governed. However, the period between 1403 and 1413 was no less dramatic and challenging for Henry than the initial years ofhis rule: he faced a series of rebellions, a financial crisis, deep-seated opposition in parliament, ill-health and a number of serious dilemmas relating to foreign policy. The essays here examine, and provide fresh interpretations of, both these particular aspects, and of broader topics adding to our understanding and government and society in the period, including the role of the lower clergy in parliament, and the mechanisms and scope of royal patronage. Contributors: A.J. POLLARD, MICHAEL BENNETT, CHRIS GIVEN-WILSON, ANTHONY TUCK, HELEN WATT, MARK ARVANIGIAN, GWILYM DODD, A.K. MCHARDY, W. MARK ORMROD, DOUGLAS BIGGS, KATE PARKER