Battle of Shrewsbury: An Arrow, A Prince, and the Fragility of Henry IV’s Power

This episode dives into the 1403 clash at Shrewsbury where Henry IV faced Hotspur, exploring how an arrow to the young prince Hal and the use of longbowmen revealed the limits of royal authority, medical practice, and the complex loyalties that shaped early fourteenth‑century England. We sift surviving accounts, archaeology and modern scholarship to tease what really happened, why historians disagree about key details, and how this battle was remembered by later generations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices