Henry IV

American  

noun

1. 1050–1106, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and king of Germany 1056–1106.

2. BolingbrokeHenry of Lancaster, 1367–1413, king of England 1399–1413 (son of John of Gaunt).

3. Henry of NavarreHenry the Great, 1553–1610, king of France 1589–1610: first of the French Bourbon kings.

4. (italics) a two-part drama (Part 1, 1597?; Part 2, 1597–98?) by Shakespeare.

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Henry IV British  

noun

1. 1050–1106, Holy Roman Emperor (1084–1105) and king of Germany (1056–1105). He was excommunicated by Pope Gregory VII, whom he deposed (1084)

2. surnamed Bolingbroke. 1367–1413, first Lancastrian king of England (1399–1413); son of John of Gaunt: deposed Richard II (1399) and suppressed rebellions led by Owen Glendower and the Earl of Northumberland

3. known as Henry of Navarre. 1553–1610, first Bourbon king of France (1589–1610). He obtained toleration for the Huguenots with the Edict of Nantes (1598) and restored prosperity to France following the religious wars (1562–98)

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Example Sentences

Later this year, Sheen will star in and co-direct the company's next production, Owain & Henry - playing Owain Glyndwr, the last Welsh-born Prince of Wales, who led a revolt against Henry IV from 1400.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

It has featured in coronation ceremonies since 1308, and has been the chair used to crown monarchs since Henry IV in 1399, the Abbey says.

From Reuters • Mar. 1, 2023

After reading countless documents that described King Henry IV standing barefoot in the snow for days as he waited to beg forgiveness from Pope Gregory in 1077, Mr. Woodward included the anecdote in his paper.

From New York Times • Jan. 20, 2023

But in the same play, Shakespeare’s Henry IV remarked that “fortune never come with both hands full.”

From Washington Post • Sep. 12, 2022

With the fighting dragging on, Henry IV was not crowned until 1594, a year after he had once again declared himself to be a Catholic, and even then the conflict with Spain continued.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin