#the death of henry iv

[une-sanz-pluis]

Warnings were issued against ‘swaying [Henry IV's] mind’, which suggests a king with impaired judgement. He was not to hear disputes among his own servants and his ability to play favourites was completely curtailed. Henry died on March 20, 1412, after which the rumour raged that he was, in Capgrave’s words, ‘so contracte, that his body was scarce a cubite of length’, or equivalent to eighteen to twenty-two inches in height. Equally, the chronicler of the Scotichronicon maintained that at death, Henry’s body was the size of a twelve-year-old. Rumours such as these illustrate the tendency for ‘real events’ (such as Henry’s unpopular decision to execute Archbishop Scrope) to translate into symbolic if not actual punishments. The king’s body was exhumed in 1832 and showed no contraction; figuratively at least, his capacity to rule effectively had shrunk in the minds of some of his contemporary chroniclers.

Helen Hickey, "Royal Trauma and Traumatized Subjects in Late Medieval England and France", Trauma in Medieval Society (Brill 2018)

[repeatdeath]

meet my oc he is fucking stupid and self destructive and a repressed homosexual and violent and rich and fucks with chemicals and does shit hes not supposed to and god hates him personally and manipulative and depressed and going through a crisis constantly and a doctor and a boytoy and ugly inside and pretty outside and a whore and kills himself and hates everyone and his name is Henry Jekyll and

[fazgoo-connoiseur-1987]

FIRE!!

[the-ghost-king]

Of Tender Death and Perpetual Care

markus zusak, the book thief // tweet by @petfurniture // gustav klimt, mother and child // jk. rowling, harry potter and the deathy hallows // andrew wyeth, perpetual care // ocean vuong, on earth we're briefly gorgeous // oscar wilde, the canterville ghost // henry scott holland, death the king of terrors // markus zusak, the book thief // hugo simberg, the garden of death // markus zusak, the book thief

[withasideofshakespeare]

Have you ever noticed that pretty much everybody in Shakespeare's histories is an awful parent? Now you can rank them according to your tastes in (bad) parenting with my tier list maker:

I probably forgot somebody (please tell me if I did) and also all of the parent-adjacent characters are included according to my personal tastes (mostly because Falstaff does a LOT of (weird) parenting and deserved a spot and then pulled a bunch of other people along with him).

Here's mine:

[butchhamlet]

Since you read the entire Shakespeare canon according to your bio (assuming that's what "canon completed" mean), I'm curious to see your tier list ranking of the Shakespeare plays. Here's this tier list template I found btw; https://tiermaker.com/create/shakespeare-677439 If you already did a tier list, can you link to that post when answering this ask please?

i have done it twice before at various times! but my opinions have changed again so i made another one. all opinions mine and no judgment to those who enjoy or dislike each play etc etc etc

happy to provide my reasoning behind any of these, but in short:

s tier = i will straight-up call this one of the best things ever written (hamlet, king lear)

favorites = not quite as good as the above two but my beloveds (JC, R&J, macbeth, 1H4, twelfth night)

jail box = this is placed between favorites and great for a reason but we're not talking about it (a&c)

great = not my personal favorites but fairly objectively really good (the tempest, othello, richard iii, much ado, midsummer)

good = doesn't quite match up to the "great" tier for various reasons, but i like em (AYLI, richard ii, henry v, coriolanus)

underrated = we should talk about these more (king john, 3H6, troilus & cressida, titus andronicus)

not my thing but i respect its merits (measure for measure, merchant, winter's tale, 2H4)

eh / forgot it exists (pericles, timon, cymbeline, all's well, 2H6, merry wives)

criminally boring (love's labour's lost, henry viii, 1H6)

ten thousand demons = this one used to be "criminally boring AND misogynist" because i can forgive misogyny in a play from the 1600s but i can't forgive boring me. but i renamed it because comedy of errors isn't quite on the misogyny level of the other two but unfortunately i despise it because i hate farces and i hate fun

[illustratus]

The Assassination of Henri IV and arrest of Ravaillac on 14 May 1610

by Charles-Gustave Housez

[wonder-worker]

how did henry VII think of edward IV? how did he refer to him during his rule?

Personally, we don’t know what Henry VII thought of Edward IV. I think it’s likely to have been more complex and/or conflicted than black-or-white, given the situation, but we naturally can’t presume to know what Henry may have felt.

Publicly, Henry gave him all the respect that was due to a former ruler. Edward's status as king by right and by law was explicit and unambiguous: he was repeatedly referred to as ‘Edward, late king of England’ (in contrast to, say, Richard III, who was derided as an undeserving usurper). In letters and other official documents, Henry would only ever refer to him as ‘our father, the most famous prince of blessed memory’. This was probably a more conventional address than not, but it certainly wasn't necessary for Henry to publicly identify with Edward in such a way - it's something he would have had to have chosen to do.

One of Edward's symbols, the white rose, became one-half of the defining symbol of Henry's regime and that of his successors. But it wasn't the only one: Yorkist emblems like the sun in splendour and the falcon and fetterlock were also used very prominently in Tudor iconography, such as the gates of Henry VII's chapel at Westminster Abbey. Henry continued other dynastic projects as well, such as the foundation of a convent for the Greyfriars.

Most strikingly, it's clear that Henry prioritized Yorkist traditions for both his heirs: his eldest son Arthur was raised at Ludlow as the March heir with Mortimer trappings, and he invested his second son Henry (the future Henry VIII) as the Duke of York, following the precedent Edward IV had begun for his second son Richard of Shrewsbury. It was only for his third unfortunately short-lived son Edmund that Henry revived the traditionally Lancastrian-associated title of Somerset. Dynastic priorities are quite clear*.

Moreover, while Henry VII repeatedly highlighted his connection to Henry VI (his uncle who was deposed and murdered on Edward's orders in 1471), taking great efforts to rehabilitate and canonize him along with the rest of the Lancastrians, Edward IV was still not officially blamed for anything. His central role in the destruction of the Lancastrians was entirely omitted from formal parliamentary records, and even the blame for Henry VI’s death was officially dumped on Richard III instead.

None of this should be especially surprising. Henry was married to Edward's daughter, and it was Edward's Yorkist supporters who "launched" Henry as an active claimant in first place after realizing that the Princes in the Tower were dead during October risings (which were originally meant to restore them to the throne) - not because they supported Henry's technical claim but because they wanted to put Edward IV's line back on the throne via Henry's marriage to Elizabeth of York. They joined him in exile and remained his councilors after he won the crown. Moreover, a great deal of Henry's reign consisted of Pretenders who sought the throne claiming that they were the sons of Edward IV - in this context, it makes sense that Henry would try to highlight his own connection to him in a similar way. (I think there's a very interesting discussion to be had about how Edward functioned as the posthumous dynastic focus for all claimants to the throne after 1483 in the lieu of Edward III for the claimants in the lead-up to the Wars in the 1450s, but that's another topic entirely).

There's also the simple fact that, despite the ample controversies of his second reign (regicide, fratricide, acceptance of bribes from France, posthumous slander by his own brother, etc), Edward IV seems to have remained very popular and well-regarded by the people of England. Even if Henry wanted to ruin his memory - and nothing suggests that he did, not least because of how it would reflect on his own queen - I think it's rather unlikely that he would have been able to do so. After all, Richard III had already tried and failed. On the contrary, the popularity and positions of Henry's own sons were bolstered by the fact that they were Edward's grandchildren and identified as such by his subjects. At the very least, Henry seems to have accepted this. However, given how closely he followed the precedents of the Princes in the Tower while raising his own sons, he was likely actively leveraging it for his own family's benefit. This is partly why I dislike the idea that Henry viewed Elizabeth of York's claim and popularity as threats to his position: we already know that this is not true, as both actually helped Henry secure his kingship and ensure the succession of his sons.

*Sean Cunningham talks about this further in the chapter "A Yorkist Legacy for the Tudor Prince of Wales on the Welsh Marches: Affinity-Building, Regional Government and National Politics, 1471-1502" in The Fifteenth Century XVIII, if you want to read up further on the topic.

[moonmoonthecrabking]

*slaps hood of jagertitty* this bad boy can fit so much christian symbolism into it

[inkynightmaresau]

henry, have you thought about maybe like... telling the toons why they cant go near joey? because i think the lack of transparency might be causing more harm than good

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[poems-of-a-lover]

will never be over this honestly

[une-sanz-pluis]

hello! i wanted to ask whether there is any record of what isabella of valois’s reasons were for refusing to marry into the english royal family again after the death of richard ii. obviously it’s easy to speculate a variety of possible reasons, given the circumstances, but do we have evidence of what was actually primarily motivating that decision? or at least what reasons she gave publicly for it?

Hi, sorry for taking so long to get to your ask. The last few months have been hectic and I had to take some time to research this. The research took awhile because the image of Isabelle of Valois making a furious stand against Henry IV and refusing to marry his son is very common but actual contemporary sources for it... are not. At least, I haven't been able to find any.

I'm not saying that we definitely have no contemporary source for it - I'm aware that, since I can't read French or Latin and don't have access to an academic library, I can only check things that have been published or translated into English and are easily accessible. However, I'm reasonably certain that I've not missed anything obvious since none of the academic work I've read ever cite anything like the story. The most sources say is that Henry IV wanted Isabelle to marry into the royal family (e.g. Jean Creton claims that Henry wanted to marry a woman in the French royal family himself and marry his son, the future Henry V, to Isabelle) and that Charles VI* was steadfast in his refusal to even countenance the offer and instead wanted Isabelle to be returned.

The best source I could find for Isabelle's feelings on her potential remarriage is in Jean Froissart's Oeurves, which is available online for free but in French. Working off an ill-advised Google Translation and other historians' discussion of the passage, Jean de Hangest, lord of Hugueville was able to have a private audience with Isabelle, during which he informed her that her parents absolutely forbade her from marrying into the English royal family again and that she should refuse any efforts even if she incurred the wrath of the English. Isabelle confirmed that the English had spoken to her about marriage on several occasions (there are no other details were given) and then she asked Hugueville to assure her father of her obedience to his will and said, on fear of death, she wouldn't disobey him and marry without his permission. Then she began to weep and Hugueville ended their meeting.

Her anger at Henry IV does have some support in contemporary sources, however, but these relate to reports of her behaviour during the ceremonies for her return to France in Mary 1401.

The sources almost universally agree that Isabelle was agitated during the ceremonies, both in England and in France. Adam of Usk reports that she said little but scowled with "deep hatred" at Henry and that some feared "her burning desire for revenge". Other writers report her weeping during the ceremonies. Juvenal des Ursins, for instance, writes that she wept and continued to weep loudly, despite her parents' joyful greeting of her.

It's important to stress that Isabelle is given little to no direct speech in these reports (the exception is John Hayward who wrote Isabelle openly reproving Henry, but given he wrote during the Tudor era, his version should be considered suspect) and that all reports interpret her body language in order to fit their own narratives. For instance, Usk depicts her unconcealed anger as a sign of her childishness which, in turn, feeds his overall aim in discrediting Richard II's kingship. For Richard to choose such a young and childish girl for his queen speaks to a serious error in judgement and further adds to Lancastrian narrative of Richard being unable to mature into adulthood and rule properly.

This is not to say that Isabelle's agitation was a wholesale invention by the chroniclers but, rather, it is they who have assigned the meaning to her behaviour.

I suspect that the narrative of her furious refusal to the proposal that she marry Henry's son conflates the reports of Usk and Hayward (the latter of whom is probably given too much weight) with the fact of the marriage negotiations. It's a perfectly logical leap to make. We know from Hugueville that the English did speak to her about marriage but we know nothing about what was said or how she felt about it, so we borrow from the accounts of her open anger at Henry IV when she was returned to her parents. But in terms of actual evidence, all we know is that her parents had prohibited it and that Isabelle wished to be obedient to their will. It's also important to recognise that Isabelle was still under the age of consent so she, personally, could not agree to a marriage and permission had to be given by her parents as long she remained underage.

As you say, it's very easy to speculate. I came away from my research feeling incredibly sorry for Isabelle. It's very, very easy imagine that Richard's deposition and the prolonged negotiations between England and France over her future were incredibly distressing, especially when we read of the pressure she was under from both sides. It would be entirely natural if she did resent Henry for what he had done to her and to Richard and I do think there was at least some truth to Usk's reports of her anger. In terms of what she felt about her potential husband - who was very probably the future Henry V, though the official records are somewhat vague on this point - we have no evidence.

* I use "Charles VI" here as it was in his name that these actions were carried out. It should be read as a shorthand for his government as due to his severe mental illness it is not always clear who was directing French policy. As far as I can make out, however, Charles was in one of his lucid periods during these negotiations.

References

Stephanie Downes and Stephanie Trigg, "“she shal bryngen us the pees on every syde”: The Ceremonial Restoration of Women in Late Medieval Culture", Literature, Emotions and Pre-Modern War: Conflict In Medieval and Early Modern Europe (ARC Humanities Press 2021)

Nancy McLoughlin, Jean Gerson and Gender: Rhetoric and Politics in Fifteenth-Century France (Palgrave 2015)

Christopher Phillpotts, “The Fate of the Truce of Paris, 1396–1415,” Journal of Medieval History, vol. 24, no. 1 (1998)

S.P. Pistono, “Henry IV and Charles VI: The Confirmation of the Twenty-Eight-Year Truce,” Journal of Medieval History, vol. 3, no. 4 (1977)

S. P. Pistono, “The Diplomatic Mission of Jean De Hangest, Lord of Hugueville (October, 1400),” Canadian Journal of History, vol. 13, no. 2 (1978)

Louise Tingle, "Isabella of Valois: Child Queen", Later Plantagenet and the Wars of the Roses Consorts: Power, Influence, and Dynasty (Palgrave 2023)  

Deanne Williams, "Isabelle de France: Child Bride", Shakespeare and the Performance of Girlhood (Palgrave 2014)

[flibbertygigget]

Everyone talks about gaying Richard II and Aumerle but no one talks about gaying Prince Hal and Hotspur

[fazgoo-connoiseur-1987]

Giftbox: Writing Wip :]

2 months. William had been doing this for 2 months.

Once a week (sometimes more) he'd drive over to Henry's house and wait outside the door, praying he'd get an answer this time, going in regardless. His friend still hadn't returned to work and, although managing the restaurant by himself was draining, he couldn't bring himself to care. This was the happiest he'd been in years and it was all because of these little weekly meetings.

It was still cold out- the days just rolling into the new year- and William found himself pressing the doorbell again through shivers. He'd give Henry another few minutes, as a courtesy, because he was a friend.

Just as he was about to give up, he heard a muffled voice from beyond the door. Pressing his ear to it yielded nothing. He cleared his throat.

"Sorry, didn't quite catch that?"

"I said come in. Jackass." Henry's voice was coarse, quieter than he thought he'd ever hear it- William beamed.

The door was unlocked, it had been the whole time and William knew this (he'd rung out of Henry one night that he was hoping someone would break but alas, no luck). Charading normalcy was something he was very practised at, and it seemed to ease Henry into accepting his help- he had no chance otherwise.

Stepping inside, he closed the door behind him. Henry's house was almost as cold inside as the frigid January air and William almost considered keeping on his coat. That would've been rude though, so he resigned himself to shrugging it off and hanging it on Henry's coat rack, along with the scarf he was wearing. He kept the gloves on.

Slipping his dress shoes off, he placed them neatly next to Henry's work boots, in the same position they were last week, and the week before that. They hadn't been cleaned and William forced his eyes away from them before he could focus on the stains.

Moving into the living room, he scrunched his nose up a little, trying not to make a face. Henry was lying on his couch (expected), staring forward at the television. Boxes of rotten food littered the floor- William nudged one with his foot, half expecting it to grow legs and scamper away. He sighed.

"You're in the same clothes you were the last time I was here." He kept his voice as neutral as possible. This wasn't a judgement, it was an observation. Non of the sympathy he felt reached his tone though- Henry despised being coddled it would only hinder this.

"Mmhm." God, his heart ached to see Henry in such a state: curled in a ball, hardly able to speak unless it was to jab at him. Yet it was undercut with the low thrum of excitement, he had to restrain himself from bouncing on his soles.

"How about I draw you a bath, hm?" He searched Henry's face for a flicker of acknowledgement. "You can clean up while I make dinner."

William smiled at him, softly, restrained. He had to force his face to stay still when Henry finally met his eye. Christ he looked rough. So unkempt and tired, not having slept a wink in weeks. He nodded, a small movement that made the corner of William's mouth tug upwards. He bore teeth.

"Brilliant," Clasping his hands together, he began to hurry upstairs. "I'll be right back."

William paused as he reached the top, his head snapping left. Of course. Henry couldn't go upstairs. Not without his friend's support, anyways. That cream-white door at the end of the hall- little glow in the dark stickers adorning its surface, peeling slightly and dull from the lack of light that had graced them recently. It was still slightly ajar. It hadn't been touched.

Shaking his head, William let out a breath he didn't realise he'd been holding. No point in dwelling on it, he was here for a reason.

Running Henry the bath wasn't at all difficult, getting him in it was a different story. The man was heavier than what William could carry (that capped out at Elizabeth, who was just about reaching the age where she was too big for him to comfortably hold in his arms), and manoeuvring him so he could toss an arm over his shoulder and support him when he stood was frustrating. Henry had agreed to this but he was less than cooperative. William persisted, though, eventually getting him to stumble up the stairs like some drunkard (although Henry was, currently, sober. An increasing rarity).

Quickly turning Henry around before he could focus on that god forsaken door, he managed to get him into the bathroom with little incident. He pointed out the folded pyjamas he'd layed out for him, asked him if he needed anything else, and left when Henry grumbled at him, already starting to undress with his friend still in the room. Closing the door, William waited for a few moments, his heart pounding. This was perfect. This was absolutely and wholly perfect.

2 months ago he had taken a risk. One he never would've chanced if he hadn't been drunk and grieving. Yet it was paying off better than he could've ever imagined. He remembered driving home that night, doing 200mph the wrong way down the highway- half hoping he'd crash and not have to face what would come after. Already lamenting his decision. How utterly stupid that had been, how glad he was to be alive at this moment.

He passed the door at the end of the hall and muttered a quiet, sincere thanks to its late inhabitant.

[drewlyyours]

LEGEND OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL FANCAST

ND #17

Henry Bolet Jr. - Jamie Campbell Bower

Renee Amande - Pam Farris

Lamont Warrick - Caleb McLaughlin

Gilbert Buford - Morgan Freeman

I guess I do come across as a little... needy sometimes

MHM, TRT, FIN, SSH, DOG, CAR, DDI, SHA, CUR, CLK, TRN, DAN, CRE, ICE

[8cfc00]

augh who up feeling like they should be humanely euthanised for liking media the wrong way... sorry for fandomising certain characters but not fandomising others enough in the right way.