Richard II 1367-1400
King of England

Born in Bordeaux, France, the son of Edward the Black Prince, he succeeded his grandfather, Edward III in 1377 at the age of 10, and the government was entrusted to a council of 12, although for a time his uncle, John of Gaunt, gained control. Richard's reign was characterized by a struggle between his own desire to act independently, and the barons' concern to check his power. Richard showed great resolution and courage in facing the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, which had been largely caused by the introduction of the notorious poll tax to pay for war with France and the extravagance of the court (for which John of Gaunt was largely held responsible). The men of Kent, led by Wat Tyler, ran riot pillaging and killing in London. They met the king at Smithfield (15 June) where, during the negotiations, Tyler was struck down, but Richard declared that he would grant them the concessions they demanded. From this time John of Gaunt exercised less power, and in 1386 he retired to live in the Continent. In 1385 Richard invaded Scotland and burned Edinburgh. Meanwhile his uncle, Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester (1355-97), formed a baronial coalition in opposition to him. They impeached several of his friends in the so-called 'Merciless Parliament' of 1388, and had many of them executed. However, on 3 May 1389 Richard promptly declared himself of age, and for eight years he ruled as a moderate constitutional monarch. Later, and especially after his marriage in 1396 to Isabella (1389-1409), daughter of Charles VI of France, he took a more despotic view of the monarchy, and he had a number of his enemies, including Gloucester, Thomas Arundel and Thomas de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick (c.1345-1401), arrested and executed or murdered. In 1398 several lords were banished, including John of Gaunt's son Henry Bolingbroke. The following year John died, and Henry succeeded him as Duke of Lancaster. Richard went over to Ireland in May, and Henry landed on 4 July. Richard hurried back, submitted at Flint (19 August), and was put in the Tower. On 29 September he resigned the Crown, and next day was deposed by parliament in favour of Lancaster, who succeeded as Henry IV. Richard was imprisoned in Pontefract Castle, and died there, probably murdered, early in 1400.

Bibliography: Michael Senior, The Life and Times of Richard II (1981)