Richard II

Also known as: I Richard / K. Richards / K. of England / RICHARD / RICHARD THE SECOND / RICHARDUS / Richard king of England / Richard of Bordeaux / Richard of Burdeaux / Richard that was / Richard the second / king Richard the second / king Richard the seconds / king Richards / late king / new K. / said Richard late king · Family: England · Role: king of England · First appears: Richard II 1

In 1377, Richard II began reigning over England at eleven, as the son of Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales and grandson of Edward III. “a child of the age of eleuen yeares,” he was crowned and anointed at Westminster, created Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, Guishard de Engolesme, Mowbraie, and Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland earls, and had his governance assigned to John of Gaunt, Edmund Langley, Duke of York, and other peers. He later married Anne of Bohemia in 1382. During the rising of 1381, he offered the commons charters of freedom, ordered the arrest of Wat Tyler, spared many rebels, and knighted William Walworth, John Walworth, Ralph Standish, John Philpot, Nicholas Brembre, John Laund, and Nicholas Twifield, before the charters were revoked and the principal offenders executed.

Through the 1380s, Richard II appointed and rewarded servants, councillors, and nobles, including Thomas Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, Robert Hales, Robert de Vere, Duke of Ireland, Michael de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk, and Simon Burley. He reconciled with John of Gaunt in 1385, but his growing reliance on Robert de Vere, Duke of Ireland and Alexander Neville, Archbishop of York brought him into conflict with the lords. In 1388, Richard and Robert de Vere, Duke of Ireland moved against Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester and his allies, while the opposing lords demanded the removal of the king’s advisers. Simon Burley was beheaded against Richard’s will, and Richard was brought to a state in which he “ruled not, but was ruled by his vncles, and other to them associat.” In 1389 he assumed personal government, removed Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester and Thomas Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick from his council, and appointed William of Wykeham chancellor.