The Battle of Shrewsbury

King Henry the Fourth

King Henry the Fourth led the Lancastrian army. His son, later King Henry the Fifth, was just fifteen years old at the time but played an important role in the battle. The Earls of Stafford and Dunbar were other important supporters of King Henry’s cause.

An Effigy of King Henry the Fourth

An Effigy of King Henry the Fourth can be seen on the east wall of Battlefield Church. He is shown dressed in armour and ready for battle. King Henry was no stranger to war. He had fought in Scotland in the 1380's, at the Battle of Radcot Bridge in 1387, and in East Prussia in the 1390's. The Royal army that King Henry brought to the Battle of Shrewsbury was large and well equipped. He had a clear advantage over his enemy.

Sir Henry Percy

Sir Henry Percy, also known as Hotspur, led the rebels. His chief supporters included his uncle Thomas, Earl of Worcester, and the Earl of Douglas. Henry Percy’s father, the Earl of Northumberland, was not present at the battle.

Only a few years before the Battle of Shrewsbury the Percy family had been great allies in the events that brought King Henry the Fourth to the throne. Henry Percy had fought for the King on many occasions, defending his realm along the Scottish border. In 1388 Percy famously led an attack against the Scottish army at the Battle of Otterburn, killing the Scottish commander, the Earl of Douglas. Again in 1402 he was amongst the leaders of an English army whose archers totally defeated the Scottish at Homildon Hill.

Families such as the Percys invested their time, money and very lives defending the northern borders for the King. For this they expected large financial rewards, but these were not forthcoming. In the months leading up to the Battle of Shrewsbury the feeling of unrest grew until finally, in an act of frustration, Henry Percy raised an army and began to ride south against the king.