Henry IV is the Lancastrian king who overthrew his cousin Richard II in the previous play. While he was portrayed as a young man of action in Richard II, the responsibilities of his turbulent reign and the guilt of causing Richard’s death weigh heavily upon him. At the beginning of the play, he describes himself as “shaken” and “wan with care” (1.1.1). As an act of contrition, King Henry plans a crusade to the Holy Land, but he is forced to address domestic strife. While Hotspur put down rebellions in Scotland, new conflicts arise in Wales when Owen Glendower captures of Mortimer, the presumptive heir to Richard II. Henry is threatened by the same dynastic conflict that deposed Richard. However, Henry proves to be a stronger ruler than his predecessor, gathering enough forces to put down the rebellion.

Henry’s plight shows that a title is not enough to maintain sovereign power. The king is afflicted both by his involvement with the Percy family in his rise to power and his doubts about Prince Hal’s suitability as his successor. A king’s power is ultimately beholden to the loyalty of those who follow him. The Percys were powerful allies when Henry return from exile in Richard II.