Wars of the Roses - Richard ii, 1377-1399

Richard II ascends the throne

1377

Peasants’ Revolt

1381

Marriage to Anna of Bohemia

1382

de la Pole promoted to chancellor

1383

de la Pole promoted to Earl

1385

de Vere promoted to marquis

1386

Wonderful Parliament

1386

John of Gaunt left England

1386

Lords Appellant

1387

Merciless Parliament

1388

return of John of Gaunt

1389

death of first wife, Anne of Bohemia

1394

marriage to Isabella of France

1396

revenge against appellants

1397

exile of Mowbray and Bolingbroke

1398

death of John of Gaunt

1399

Richard’s expedition to Ireland

1399

Bolingbroke’s invasion

1399

Richard’s attitude to Kingship (4)

• The Peasants’ Revolt was very worrying and may have contributed to his demand for absolute obedience

• He tried to secure French support against a domestic rebellion

• His ‘tyrannous’ revenge against the Lords appellant and creation of the duketti

• His intimidating use of his Cheshire Archers

Having favourites (4)

• Richard was overly generous to his favourites, Michael de la Pole and Robert de Vere: Promoted de la Pole to chancellor and Earl of Suffolk, and Vere to Marquis of Oxford 

• Wonderful Parliament: Parliament forced Richard to remove de la Pole but he plotted to reverse the decision

• Lords Appellant: Accused 5 of Richard’s favourites of treason and defeated de Vere at the battle of Radcot bridge

  • Merciless Parliament: punished favourites

Military capability

• England was at war with France; not going well and parliament resented having to keep agreeing to taxation to fund war

• Richard was seen as pro French - Richard of Bordeaux as he spent his childhood in France

• Not a good soldier, expedition to Scotland (1385) ended badly

• His uncles (John of Gaunt and Thomas of Woodstock) angered by lack of military capability

Lack of an Heir

His first marriage was childless and his second wife was only 7 years old and remained unconsumated

1399… as a year… was interesting

• John of Gaunt dies —> Richard confiscates Bolingbroke’s inheritance (against customs)

• In may, Richard went to Ireland to quell rebellion

• Political situation in France meant that Bolingbroke got support for an invasion

• Nobles joined Bolingbroke and Richard took too long to return from Ireland

• By the time he returned it was too late, captured and imprisoned in the Tower