|
 Richard II
(1367-1400) was 10 years old when he succeeded his grandfather,
Edward III, as king. He
was the son of Edward, the Black Prince, and a nephew of John of
Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster.
From the beginning of Richard's reign, Gaunt was the real
ruler. Gaunt taxed
the people so heavily that a rebellion under Wat Tyler broke out
in 1381.
Richard showed considerable spirit and courage in putting
down the rebellion.
Richard
was a tyrant. He was
guilty of great extravagance and of playing favourites.
Because of his conduct, he won the hatred of all classes.
The breaking point came when he seized the estates of his
cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, John of Gaunt's son, in an attempt to
ruin the House of Lancaster. Bolingbroke rallied an army and in 1399 forced Richard from
the throne. Bolingbroke
then became King Henry IV.
Richard died in prison.
He was probably murdered. |
