Henry Percy 4th earl of Northumberland

Henry Percy Northumberland, 4th earl of 1446-89, English nobleman. When his father, the 3d earl, was killed fighting in the Lancastrian army at Towton (1461), he was imprisoned by Edward IV and the earldom forfeited. He was released in 1469, restored to the earldom in 1470, and served the Yorkist monarch. Although Northumberland accepted lands and offices from Richard III, he withheld his men in the battle at Bosworth (1485) and submitted to the earl of Richmond, who was crowned Henry VII.

Northumberland, Henry Percy, 4th earl of (c.1449–89). Edward IV kept Percy in detention after the death of his father, the 3rd earl, in 1461. He was restored to the earldom in 1470 and appointed warden of the east march. He supported Richard's usurpation in 1483, and obeyed the call to arms against Henry Tudor but remained inactive at Bosworth Field.

Northumberland, Henry Percy, 4th earl of (c.1449–89). Edward IV kept Percy in detention after the death of his father, the 3rd earl, in 1461. He was restored to the earldom in 1470 and appointed warden of the east march to replace John Neville. Tension with Richard, duke of Gloucester (later Richard III), who had replaced Warwick in his northern lands and offices, was allayed by Northumberland being retained by the duke in 1474. He supported Richard's usurpation in 1483, but apparently resented the king's continuing interest in the north. He obeyed the call to arms against Henry Tudor but remained inactive at Bosworth Field. Henry VII soon realized that he needed Northumberland's services in the east march. He was killed in an anti-tax demonstration in Yorkshire.

R. L. Storey