War for the Throne: The Battle of Shrewsbury 1403

by John Barratt

Overview

The opening years of the fifteenth century saw one of the most bitterly contested political and military convulsions in the history of the British Isles, a conflict that is too-often overlooked by military historians. Henry IV, who had overthrown and probably murdered his predecessor Richard II, fought a protracted and bloody campaign against the most powerful nobles in the land. This war is the subject of John Barratts gripping study.

The Percy family, the Kings of the North, and their most famous leader Sir Henry Percy Hotspur,whose fiery nature and military prowess were immortalized by Shakespeare stood out against Henrys rule. And the beleaguered king also had to contend with a range of other unrelenting opponents, among them Owain Glyn Dwr, who led the Welsh revolt against English supremacy.

In this graphic account of the first, deeply troubled years of Henry IVs reign, John Barratt concentrates on the warfare, in particular on the setpiece pitched battles fought at Homildon Hill, Pilleth and Shrewsbury.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526791863
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	12/25/2020
Series:	Campaign Chronicles
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

John Barratt is a leading authority on the Royalist Armies in the Civil War. Author of over a dozen books on the subject, including Cavaliers the first detailed study of the Royalist forces, and a nuber of campain histories. His latest books with Helion include Rabble of Gentility the story of the Northern Horse, and The Last Battle: The Stow on the Wold Campaign. He lectures regularly on historical subjects and lives in the Welsh Marches, an area rich in history!

Table of Contents

Illustrations and Maps vii

Chronology xv

Background 1

Death of a King 2

Uprising in Wales 15

The Armies 32

Pilleth and Homildon Hill 36

Campaign Chronicle 57

The Roots of Rebellion 57

The Shrewsbury Campaign 71

Approach to Battle 79

The Battle of Shrewsbury 84

The Price of Rebellion 97

Welsh High Tide 103

The Glyn Dwr Revolt: Turning Point 106

Glyn Dwr's Decline 115

Northumberland's Last Throw 119

The End of Glyn Dwr 121

Aftermath 125

The Battlefields Today 128

Orders of Battle 129

Glossary 131

Bibliography 133

Index 137

Editorial Reviews

"a fresh look at the conflict, delving into the contemporary accounts and describing in detail the fighting methods and tactics…"

Shropshire Star