Epiphany Rising
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The Epiphany Rising was a failed rebellion against Henry IV of England in January 1400.
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[edit] Background
After the murder of Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester, Richard II rewarded those who had supported him against Gloucester and the Lords Appellant with a plethora of new titles. Upon the usurpation and accession of Henry IV in 1399, many of those titles were placed under attainder, due to the complicity of their holders in the murder of Gloucester.
[edit] Conspiracy
The ringleaders of the conspiracy were John Montagu, 3rd Earl of Salisbury, John Holland, 1st Earl of Huntingdon (formerly Duke of Exeter), Thomas Holland, 3rd Earl of Kent (formerly Duke of Surrey), and Thomas le Despenser, 4th Baron le Despencer (formerly Earl of Gloucester). Other members included Edward of Norwich, 1st Earl of Rutland (formerly Duke of Aumale), and Ralph Lumley, 1st Baron Lumley.
They hoped to seize Henry IV during a tournament at Windsor, kill him, and restore Richard II to the throne. However, Edward of Norwich betrayed the conspirators to Henry. Forewarned, Henry failed to appear at Windsor and began to raise an army in London. The conspirators fled to the western counties and raised the standard of rebellion. However, they obtained little support and were quickly apprehended by local authorities.
[edit] Aftermath
While attempting to seize Cirencester, Lumley was beheaded in a skirmish by the townsfolk and Salisbury and Kent were captured. Held briefly in custody, they were abruptly beheaded without trial on January 7, 1400. Le Despencer was captured at Bristol and was also summarily beheaded on January 13, 1400. Huntingdon was captured at Pleshey and dealt with likewise on January 16, 1400. Those executed were subsequently attainted in March; the sons of Kent, Salisbury and Huntingdon were later restored to their fathers' titles. The attainders were formally reversed in 1461 by a Yorkist parliament.
The rebellion also convinced Henry IV that Richard II was a dangerous liability. The deposed monarch would come to his death by means unknown in Pontefract Castle by February 17, 1400.
