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Sir Henry “Hotspur” Percy

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Sir Henry “Hotspur” Percy

Birth
Alnwick, Northumberland Unitary Authority, Northumberland, England
Death
21 Jul 1403 (aged 39)
Shrewsbury, Shropshire Unitary Authority, Shropshire, England
Burial
York, York Unitary Authority, North Yorkshire, England Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Knight of the Garter, Knight of Bath. Justice of Chester, North Wales and Flintshire, Warden of the East Marches, Captain of Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Son and heir apparent of Sir Henry Percy and Margaret de Neville. Grandson of Sir Henry de Percy, Lord Percy, and Mary of Lancaster, descendant of King Henry III, Ralph de Neville, Lord Raby, descendant of King John, and Alice de Audley. Henry was born at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, the home of the Percy's.

Husband of Elizabeth de Mortimer, eldest daughter of Sir Edmund de Mortimer, Earl of March, descendant of King John, and Philippe of Antwerp, daughter of Lionel, Duke of Clarence. They were married by 10 Dec 1379 and had one son, Sir Henry, Earl of Nothumberland, and one daughter, Elizabeth, who married Sir John Clifford.

The Percy family entered into difficulties with the crowns of England several generations before Henry "Hotspur" as he was styled by the Scots for his readiness for, and speed during battle.

Henry was with Richard II on his expedition into Scotland in 1385, and sent to France to reinforce Calais and lead raids into Picardy. Upon his return he was made a Knight of the Order of the Garter. Henry was the English commander at the Battle of Otterburn in 1388 where Douglas, the Scottish commander was slain and Henry was taken prisoner, eventually ransomed for 7,000 marks. He became John of Gaunt's deputy, was in Ireland with Richard II and back to Aquitane and again, Calais. In 1399 he was with his father in the proceedings that placed Henry Bolingbroke, Henry IV, back on the throne from his exile, deposing of Richard II.

Henry IV Appointed Henry Percy the royal lieutenant in North Wales after the rebellion of Owain Glyn Dwr. Henry and his father joined wit the Earl of Dunbar against the Scots at the Battle of Homildon Hill, and took Archibald Douglas, the 4th Earl of Douglas prisoner.

The Percy family became disenchanted with Henry IV, as the king failed to pay their wages, favored Dunbar, demanded their Scottish prisoners and failed to quiet the Wales rebellion. Finally the Percys took up arms against the king. They marched to Shrewsbury with Thomas Percy, the Earl of Worcester, looking for battle against the Prince of Wales, Henry V. When Henry Hotspur arrived at Shrewsbury on the 21st of July, 1403, his father's forces were late, and the king and his massive forces were ready for battle. Percy was struck down, his forces fled, and his uncle Thomas, the Earl of Worcester, was executed two days later.

It is said the Price of Wales wept to see Henry's body before it was taken by Thomas Neville to Whitchurch in Shropshire for burial. The rumors that arose saying Henry was still alive caused the king to exhume Henry's body and display it, propped up for all to see at he Shrewsbury Marketplace. His head was then dispatched to York and impaled at the city gates, his four quarters sent to London, Newcastle, Bristol and Chester, then finally delivered to his widow who had his remains buried at York Minster in November of 1403.

His father would be defeated at the Battle of Branham in 1408, also beheaded, drawn and quartered.
Knight of the Garter, Knight of Bath. Justice of Chester, North Wales and Flintshire, Warden of the East Marches, Captain of Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Son and heir apparent of Sir Henry Percy and Margaret de Neville. Grandson of Sir Henry de Percy, Lord Percy, and Mary of Lancaster, descendant of King Henry III, Ralph de Neville, Lord Raby, descendant of King John, and Alice de Audley. Henry was born at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, the home of the Percy's.

Husband of Elizabeth de Mortimer, eldest daughter of Sir Edmund de Mortimer, Earl of March, descendant of King John, and Philippe of Antwerp, daughter of Lionel, Duke of Clarence. They were married by 10 Dec 1379 and had one son, Sir Henry, Earl of Nothumberland, and one daughter, Elizabeth, who married Sir John Clifford.

The Percy family entered into difficulties with the crowns of England several generations before Henry "Hotspur" as he was styled by the Scots for his readiness for, and speed during battle.

Henry was with Richard II on his expedition into Scotland in 1385, and sent to France to reinforce Calais and lead raids into Picardy. Upon his return he was made a Knight of the Order of the Garter. Henry was the English commander at the Battle of Otterburn in 1388 where Douglas, the Scottish commander was slain and Henry was taken prisoner, eventually ransomed for 7,000 marks. He became John of Gaunt's deputy, was in Ireland with Richard II and back to Aquitane and again, Calais. In 1399 he was with his father in the proceedings that placed Henry Bolingbroke, Henry IV, back on the throne from his exile, deposing of Richard II.

Henry IV Appointed Henry Percy the royal lieutenant in North Wales after the rebellion of Owain Glyn Dwr. Henry and his father joined wit the Earl of Dunbar against the Scots at the Battle of Homildon Hill, and took Archibald Douglas, the 4th Earl of Douglas prisoner.

The Percy family became disenchanted with Henry IV, as the king failed to pay their wages, favored Dunbar, demanded their Scottish prisoners and failed to quiet the Wales rebellion. Finally the Percys took up arms against the king. They marched to Shrewsbury with Thomas Percy, the Earl of Worcester, looking for battle against the Prince of Wales, Henry V. When Henry Hotspur arrived at Shrewsbury on the 21st of July, 1403, his father's forces were late, and the king and his massive forces were ready for battle. Percy was struck down, his forces fled, and his uncle Thomas, the Earl of Worcester, was executed two days later.

It is said the Price of Wales wept to see Henry's body before it was taken by Thomas Neville to Whitchurch in Shropshire for burial. The rumors that arose saying Henry was still alive caused the king to exhume Henry's body and display it, propped up for all to see at he Shrewsbury Marketplace. His head was then dispatched to York and impaled at the city gates, his four quarters sent to London, Newcastle, Bristol and Chester, then finally delivered to his widow who had his remains buried at York Minster in November of 1403.

His father would be defeated at the Battle of Branham in 1408, also beheaded, drawn and quartered.


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