DBWI. Henry Bolingbroke regains Duchy of Lancaster

[The Professor]

In 1399 Henry Bolingbroke, exiled son of John of Gaunt, landed in England to regain his father's title to Lancaster.
However he died in what appears to be a fall from his horse during minor scuffle with some locals.
So what if he had survived:
Could he have obtained the Duchy from Richard II?
What role would he have had during the Regency before Richard's death?
Since his descendants would have been higher in the succession than that of York, would they have warred with the Mortimers instead?

 

[The Professor]

Too obscure?

I could certainly see Henry being granted the Duchy provided Richard II doesn't panic.

 

[Lindseyman]

I had to look him up
Richard was in a bad enough position that he probably would have given him the Duchy of Lancaster thinking that Bolingbroke would support him. If that was the case it would probably avert the Second Anarchy when the Yorks and Mortimers fought for the crown after Richard's death.

However if Bolingbroke decided to try for the crown himself (after all Richard was becoming somewhat of a tyrant) then the situation becomes worse. A three way fight for the crown would devastate England and whoever came out on top would be spending all their rule having to put England back together (also their heir probably would as well!).

That in turn could well advance the Scottish take over of north of the Tees (assuming the Percys suffered a similar fate (all being killed in the struggle)), though without then starting the Long War which dominated the island for the next 100 years or so.

 

[The Professor]

I had to look him up
Richard was in a bad enough position that he probably would have given him the Duchy of Lancaster thinking that Bolingbroke would support him. If that was the case it would probably avert the Second Anarchy when the Yorks and Mortimers fought for the crown after Richard's death.

However if Bolingbroke decided to try for the crown himself (after all Richard was becoming somewhat of a tyrant) then the situation becomes worse. A three way fight for the crown would devastate England and whoever came out on top would be spending all their rule having to put England back together (also their heir probably would as well!).

I don't see the Yorks trying for the crown themselves as obviously they are outranked by the heirs of Bolingbroke, let's call them Lancasters, but being Kingmakers as their support would be critical.

That in turn could well advance the Scottish take over of north of the Tees (assuming the Percys suffered a similar fate (all being killed in the struggle)), though without then starting the Long War which dominated the island for the next 100 years or so.

That just about involved all our neighbours before the Ulsters were strong enough to force a treaty or two.

 

[Lindseyman]

I don't see the Yorks trying for the crown themselves as obviously they are outranked by the heirs of Bolingbroke, let's call them Lancasters, but being Kingmakers as their support would be critical.

The Yorks did have a claim to the throne, however weak, so if they thought that they had a chance of coming out victorious then they may well have made a bid.