Henry V's reputation began forming in his 'teenage' years, during his father's reign, as he was given – and took – responsibilities in the government of the realm, impressing many lords. Originally a local dispute which was nearly put down the same year, Owain Glyn Dŵr's uprising of 1400 swiftly grew into a full scale Welsh rebellion against the English crown. As Prince of Wales, Henry – or, given his age, Henry's household and guardians – had a responsibility to help fight this treason, if only to recover the revenues Henry's welsh lands should bring him and plug a gap in royal authority. Consequently, Henry's household moved to Chester in 1400 with Henry Percy, nicknamed Hotspur, in charge of military affairs.
First Pitched Battle: Shrewsbury 1403
Hotspur was an experienced campaigner from whom the young prince was expected to learn; he was also the enemy whose defeat gave Henry his first taste of pitched battle. After several years of ineffective cross-border raiding, the Percy's also rebelled against Henry IV, culminating in The Battle of Shrewsbury on July 21st 1403. The prince was in command of the king's right flank, where he was wounded in the face by an arrow but refused to leave, fighting until the end. The king's army was victorious, Hotspur killed, and the younger Henry famed throughout England for his courage.
Return to Wales, Henry's 'School'
Henry had started to take greater responsibility for the war in Wales before Shrewsbury, but afterwards his level of command increased greatly and he began forcing a change in tactics, away from raids and onto the control of land through strong points and garrisons. Success was initially hampered by a chronic lack of funding – at one point Henry was paying for the entire war from his own estates - but by 1407 fiscal reforms facilitated the sieging of Glyn Dŵr castles; they fell by the end of 1408 leaving the rebellion fatally undermined and by 1410 Wales was brought back under English control. Throughout this period Parliament continually thanked the Prince for his work, although they often asked he spend more time personally in command in Wales. For his part, Henry's successes as king are clearly based on the lessons he learnt in Wales, particularly the value of controlling strongpoints, the tedium and difficulties of besieging them and, above all, the need for proper supplies lines and a reliable source of adequate finances. He also experienced the exercise of royal power.
The Young Henry and Politics
Henry also gained a political reputation during his youth. From 1406 to 1411 he played an ever increasing role in the King's Council, the body of men who ran the nations administration; indeed, Henry took overall command of the council in 1410. However, the opinions and policies Henry favoured were often different, and with regards to France entirely the opposite, of what his father wished. Rumours circulated, especially in 1408-9 when illness nearly killed Henry IV, that the prince wished his father to abdicate so he could assume the throne (a desire that was not without support in England) and in 1411 the king became so irked he dismissed his son from the council altogether. Parliament, however, were impressed by both the prince's energetic rule and his attempts to reform government finances (and thus cut expenses).
In 1412 the king organised an expedition to France led by Henry's brother, Prince Thomas. Henry – most probably still angry or sulking over his expulsion from power – refused to go. The campaign was a failure and Henry was accused of staying in England to plot a coup against the king. Henry reacted vigorously, sending letters of denial to powerful English lords, obtaining a promise from Parliament to investigate and personally protesting his innocence to his father. In doing so, he verbally attacked lords loyal to Henry IV and a series of accusations and counter accusations were exchanged. Later in the year more rumours emerged, this time claiming the Prince had stolen funds earmarked for a siege of Calais, prompting an irate Henry and a large armed retinue to arrive in London and protest their innocence. Again, Henry was found innocent.
The Threat of Civil War?
Henry IV had never secured universal support for his seizure of the crown and by the end of 1412 his family's supporters were drifting into armed and angry factions: the prince’s clear policies of 1410 had already gained him a large following. Fortunately for the unity of England, before these factions became too rigid people realised Henry IV was terminally ill and efforts were made to obtain peace between father, son and brother; they succeeded before Henry IV died on March 20th 1413. Had Henry IV remained healthy, would his son have started an armed conflict to clear his name, or even seize the crown? Throughout 1412 he seems to have been acting with righteous confidence, even arrogance, and after the events of 1411 was clearly chaffing against the rule of his father. While we can't say what Henry would have done, we can conclude that Henry IV’s death came at a fortuitous moment.
