Who was Richard II of England? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In January

Also Known As: Richard of Bordeaux

Died At Age: 33

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Anne of Bohemia, Isabella of Valois

father: Edward, the Black Prince

mother: Joan of Kent

siblings: 1st Duke of Exeter, Edward of Angoulême, John Holland

Born Country: France

Emperors & Kings British Men

Died on: February 14, 1400

place of death: Pontefract Castle, Yorkshire, England

Cause of Death: Starvation

City: Bordeaux, France

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1

When did Richard II become King of England?

Richard II became King of England in 1377, at the age of 10, following the death of his grandfather, King Edward III.
2

What caused the Peasants' Revolt during Richard II's reign?

The Peasants' Revolt in 1381, was sparked by high taxes, economic hardship, and the implementation of the poll tax, leading to widespread unrest among the common people.
3

How did Richard II's reign lead to political turmoil in England?

Richard II's authoritarian rule and conflicts with the nobility, such as his dispute with Henry Bolingbroke, later King Henry IV, contributed to political instability and his eventual deposition.
4

What was the significance of Richard II's deposition in 1399?

Richard II's deposition marked the first time a reigning English monarch was overthrown since the Norman Conquest, leading to the establishment of the Lancastrian dynasty.
5

How did Richard II's reign influence later conflicts such as the Wars of the Roses?

Richard II's deposition and the subsequent dynastic struggles set the stage for the Wars of the Roses between the houses of Lancaster and York, shaping the course of English history in the 15th century.

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Childhood & Early Life

Richard of Bordeaux was born as the younger son of Edward, the Black Prince, and Joan of Kent on 6 January 1367 in Bordeaux, Duchy of Aquitaine. His father Edward was the heir to the throne of England and his grandfather Edward III was the reigning King of England at the time of his Richard’s birth.

Richard’s elder brother Edward of Angoulême died in 1371 and thus Richard became the second-in-line to the throne.

His father Edward, the Black Prince became, ill and died in 1376. Richard was just nine years old at that time and the parliament feared that Richard’s uncle, John of Gaunt, would usurp the throne. Thus Richard was quickly invested with the princedom of Wales and his father's other titles.

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Accession & Reign

King Edward III died in June 1377, and Richard, aged just ten, was crowned the king on 16 July 1377. Again it was feared that John of Gaunt might try to take over the power and thus regency led by the young king's uncle was avoided. Even though the regency was avoided, the uncle still exercised considerable influence in the governance.

The king ruled with the help of a group of councilors, and two of them particularly, Sir Simon de Burley and Robert de Vere, Duke of Ireland, increasingly gained control of royal affairs.

The Hundred Years’ War between England and France was going on when Richard ascended to the throne. In order to fund the war, heavy poll taxes were levied on the citizens, thus leading to discontent among the common people.

The growing discontent sparked the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381 which was led by Wat Tyler, John Ball and Jack Straw. Many high officials were killed and the rebellion was moving out of control when Richard, just 14 years old at that time, decided to negotiate with the rebels.

The king met the rebel leaders and agreed to their demands, but the rebels continued their looting and killings. Thus the king decided to suppress the rebellion, and in a display of great valor and courage defeated the rebels and ended the revolt. The bravery and confidence displayed by Richard at such a young age earned him the respect of the citizens.

Eventually Richard assumed the complete control of his kingdom as he came of age. However, he also became too dependent on a small group of councilors who began to enjoy great influence over him. One of them was Michael de la Pole whom Richard made the chancellor in 1383. Another one of the king’s favorites was Robert de Vere, Earl of Oxford.

The 1380s saw a rise in England’s military struggles with France and the threat of a French invasion grew stronger in 1386. This led to a major crisis in Parliament. Michael de la Pole as the chancellor requested for another major taxation to fund the military expeditions. In response, the parliament asked the king to remove the chancellor and threatened him with deposition in case he refused. Thus Richard was forced to remove de la Pole.

In 1387, the control of the government was taken over by a group of aristocrats known as the Lords Appellant. The Lords Appellant launched an armed rebellion against King Richard and defeated an army under Robert de Vere. Then they purged the court and sentenced two of the king’s favorites—de Vere and de la Pole—to death along with several others.

Richard regained his power eventually and in 1389 he reasserted his authority and eliminated the principal members of the Lords Appellant. He ruled the next eight years in relative peace.

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England reached a truce with the French in 1396 and this eased the burden of taxation on the general masses.

By this time Richard had matured as a leader and no longer showered all his trust on a small group of people. However, in his quest to be assertive, he became a tyrannical and autocratic ruler and the citizens grew disillusioned with his kingship.

His uncle John of Gaunt died in 1399, and Richard disinherited Gaunt's son, Henry of Bolingbroke, from the vast Lancastrian estates which would have passed to Bolingbroke.

Infuriated, Henry of Bolingbroke invaded England and easily deposed Richard who surrendered without a fight. Following this, Richard was imprisoned and Bolingbroke ascended the throne as Henry IV.

Personal Life & Legacy

Richard married Anne of Bohemia, daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor (King of Bohemia Charles IV) and his wife Elisabeth of Pomerania, in 1382. He deeply loved his wife and was devastated by her death in 1394. This marriage produced no children.

His second marriage was a political alliance, a part of the truce with France. In 1396, he married Isabella, daughter of Charles VI of France. The princess was just a child of six at the time of the marriage.

Richard was imprisoned in Pontefract Castle following his deposition and he died in captivity on 14 February 1400. Some sources suggest that he was starved to death though the cause of his death is not clear.

Facts About Richard II of England

Richard II of England was a skilled musician and composer, known for his talent in playing the harp and writing music.

He had a great interest in fashion and was known for his extravagant clothing, often wearing richly adorned garments to showcase his wealth and power.

Richard II was a lover of lavish banquets and feasts, hosting elaborate dinners with elaborate entertainment for his guests.

He had a keen interest in the arts and culture, sponsoring many artists and writers during his reign and promoting the development of English literature.

Richard II was an avid falconer, known for his passion for hunting with birds of prey and for his skill in training and handling falcons.

Richard II of England Biography

You wanted to know

When did Richard II become King of England?

What caused the Peasants' Revolt during Richard II's reign?

How did Richard II's reign lead to political turmoil in England?

What was the significance of Richard II's deposition in 1399?

How did Richard II's reign influence later conflicts such as the Wars of the Roses?