Hertford Castle

Henry IV 1399-1413, son of John of Gaunt, was the first Lancastrian king. However, he was not the direct heir to the throne. Edmund of March, the true heir, was only eight years old though and Henry had just liberated the country from the tyranny of Richard. As such, he was enthusiastically elected by Pariament, granting the castle to his second wife, Joan of Navarre. Nevertheless, as a usurper, he had many enemies, including Robert III of Scotland. Robert, whilst opposing the new king, had his own problems at home with the clan feuds. Fearing for the life of his son and heir, he sent the boy abroad to France. However, the ship carrying him across the channel was captured by an English vessel and the boy brought to Hertford Castle for confinement. A year later, in 1405, Robert died and his detained son became James I of Scotland.

Henry died in 1413 and was succeeded by his step-son Henry V 1413-22. In 1418 he conferred the castle to his new wife, Princess Katherine of France, and they spent much time there together before his untimely death in October 1422.

He was succeeded by his son Henry VI 1422-61, the youngest ever King at only 10 months old. The young King spent much of his infancy at the castle and in 1442 he assumed power. In 1445 he married Margaret of Anjou and granted her the castle. However, these were difficult times. Many people still disputed the Lancaster's right to the throne and the English armies in France had been routed by Joan of Arc. This eventually led to the Wars Of The Roses and the capture of Henry, upon whence was crowned Edward IV 1461-83, the son of The Duke Of York. The castle at Hertford was confiscated by the Yorkists and Margaret of Anjou and the Lancastrians fled to France.

Edward IV granted the castle to his wife, Elizabeth Woodville. They had two sons and several daughters and the succession appeared secure. However, Edward died prematurely in 1483, leaving his children under-age. Initially, the eldest son Edward (aged 12) was crowned, but the machinations of his uncle, Edward's younger brother Richard, saw both him and his brother seized and murdered in The Tower of London.

And so Richard III 1483-5 became king and the castle granted to one of his greatest supporters, The Duke of Buckingham. However, the dark deed which had brought him to power only served to lead to his downfall. The Duke of Buckingham, the king's former confederate, turned against him and conspired against him with the Lancastrian heir, Henry Tudor. The aim was to unite the feuding houses of York and Lancaster by uniting their presents heirs in marriage. However, the Duke was found out and lost both his head and the castle. But the nation was longing for peace and following the death of both Richard's son and wife, Henry Tudor confronted him in The Battle of Bosworth Field on 22nd August 1484. Richard was defeated and Henry married Elizabeth of York.

Next...