1367-1413. King of England from 1399, the son
of John of Gaunt. In 1398 he was banished by
Richard II for political activity but
returned 1399 to head a revolt and be
accepted as king by Parliament. He was
succeeded by his son Henry V. He had
difficulty in keeping the support of
Parliament and the clergy, and had to deal
with baronial unrest and Glendower's rising
in Wales. In order to win support he had to
conciliate the church by a law for the
burning of heretics, and to make many
concessions to Parliament.