General Notes

HIST: CALLED THE HOTSPUR BY THE SCOTS DUE TO HIS DILIGENCE IN PATROLING THE SCOTTISH BORDER, HENRY PERCY, FIRST EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND, LED THE UPRISINGS AGAINST HENRY IV, KING OF ENGLAND. HIS FAME RESTS ON SHAKESPEARE USING HIS CHARACTER IN THE
PLAY HENRY IV.

# Event: Info 2 Fought At Battle Of Otterburn

Henry ("Harry Hotspur") (Sir), Kg (1388); born 20 May 1364; knighted 1377, accompanied his father in retaking Berwick Castle from the Scots 1378, Jt Warden of the Marches with his father 1384; Governor of Berwick 1385, served in France in the area around Calais 1386, making raids there on the French; on 5 or 19 Aug 1388 (other sources have 15 Aug, but the latest date seems the most plausible, not least because there was a full moon on 20 August and the English attack came in the evening, with fighting continuing throughout the night) he launched an assault on the encampment of an invading Scottish army at Otterburn, c 30 miles northwest of Newcastle; "Hotspur" and his brother Sir Ralph Percy were made prisoners, but James, 2nd Earl of Douglas, the Scottish general, was slain, a cross supposedly marking the spot being known as Percy's Cross; both sides claimed victory, but modern opinion inclines to the Scots; nevertheless not only were Hotspur and Sir Ralph captured the English popular imagination, keener to celebrate failure than succcess, and the ballad "Chevy Chase" resulted; the Scots have their own ballad, "Otterburn"; Hostspur was released by midsummer 1389; Warden of Carlisle and the West March 1389-94 (also East March by late 1398), Governor of Bordeaux 1393-95, joined forces with the 2nd Duke of Lancaster, afterward Henry IV, 1399, as did his father; confirmed as Warden of East March and Governor of Berwick and Roxburgh by Henry IV 1399, Justiciar of Cheshire, North Wales (1400-01), and Flint, Constable of Caernarvon, Chester, Conway and Flint Castles 1400, also granted Anglesey with Beaumaris Castle, together with Lordship of Bamburgh Castle, for life 1400, a commissioner to treat for peace with Scots 1401, a commander at Homildon Hill 1402; turned with his uncle and father against Henry IV and fell at the Battle of Shrewbury 21 July 1403; married by 1 May 1380, as her 1st husband, Lady Elizabeth Mortimer (born 12 Feb 1371; married 2nd, as his 2nd wife, 1st Lord (Baron) Camoys and died 20 April 1417), daughter of 3rd Earl of March, by Philippa, granddaughter of Edward III. [Burke's Peerage]

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Sir Henry de Percy, "Harry Hotspur", b. 20 May 1364, dvp, slain at Shrewsbury 21 July 1403; m. before 10 Dec 1379 Elizabeth Mortimer. [Magna Charta Sureties]

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Involved in revolt (1403-1405) against Henry IV. Knighted at Shrewsbury before his death. He was attacking Shrewsbury because Henry IV's son who was to become Henry V was being protected there. Henry IV and his army met Harry Hotspur before the seige could be established.

Legend has it that Harry's death was foretold at Berwick. Naturally he assumed that meant Berwick-upon-Tweed, a major town of Northumberland/Scotland. The night before the Battle of Shrewsbury, Harry and his army camped in a little hamlet outside Shrewsbury. It was not until the next morning that Harry found out that the Hamlet's name was Berwick. Harry died that day in the battle.

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Sir Henry Percy, byname HOTSPUR (b. May 20, 1364--d. July 21, 1403, near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Eng.), English rebel who led the most serious of the uprisings against King Henry IV (reigned 1399-1413). His fame rests to a large extent on his inclusion as a major character in William Shakespeare's Henry IV.

The eldest son of Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, he was nicknamed Hotspur by his Scottish enemies in recognition of the diligence with which he patrolled the border between England and Scotland. He was captured and held for ransom by Scottish invaders in 1388-89, and in 1399 he and his father played a crucial part in helping Henry Bolingbroke (afterward King Henry IV) overthrow King Richard II. Henry IV rewarded Hotspur with lands and offices in northern England and Wales, but the Percys would not be content until they dominated the king. Their stunning victory over the Scots at Homildon (Humbledon) Hill in Durham, in September 1402, contrasted with Henry's fruitless attempts to suppress the Welsh rebel Owen Glendower. Nevertheless, Henry refused to allow Hotspur to ransom the Scottish captives, and he delayed in paying the expenses of Hotspur's border warfare. Hence in 1403 Hotspur and Northumberland decided to depose the king. Hotspur raised a rebellion in Cheshire in July, but Henry intercepted him near Shrewsbury before he could join forces with his father. In the ensuing battle Hotspur was killed. [Encyclopædia Britannica CD '97, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., © 1996]