After a period of long-standing opposition to King Edward II and his advisors, including joining two open rebellions, Henry's brother Thomas was convicted of treason, executed and had his lands and titles forfeited in 1322.

A few years later, shortly after his accession in 1327, the young Edward III of England returned the earldom of Lancaster to him, along with other lordships such as that of Bowland.

[2] On the Queen's return to England in September 1326 with Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, Henry joined her party against King Edward II, which led to a general desertion of the King's cause and overturned the power of Hugh le Despenser, 1st Earl of Winchester, and his son Hugh the younger.

He helped the young king put an end to Mortimer's regency and tyranny, having him declared a traitor and executed in 1330.

[8][9] According to Jean Le Bel, he was nicknamed Wryneck, or Tors-col in French, possibly due to a medical condition.

[13] [14] Henry is a supporting character in Les Rois maudits (The Accursed Kings), a series of French historical novels by Maurice Druon.