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Richard II ruled England from 1377-1399. He’s the eighth Plantagenet king to have ruled England.
He’s best known for facing down the Peasants Revolt in 1381, continuing the 100 Years War started by his grandfather Edward III and for being dethroned by his cousin Henry Bolingbroke who would succeed him as Henry IV.
He’s the eighth Plantagenet King to have ruled England.
Here he is in our Kings and Queens timeline, ruling around 650 years ago.
…
When he was born in 1367, his grandfather Edward III had been on the throne for 40 years. He was the son of the King’s eldest Edward the Black Prince, who would have ruled as King Edward IV, had he not died in 1376.
As a consequence when Edward III’s 50-year reign finally ended, his grandson was crowned.
Before the old King died, he perhaps detected that trouble was brewing.
Another son of his, John of Gaunt , had become one of the richest, most powerful men in England and there appears to have been fears that he would usurp the throne.
To that end the King’s young grandson was quickly made Prince of Wales (a kind of King-in-waiting position).
Additionally, Richard and John of Gaunt’s son Henry Bolingbroke were summoned to stand before the elderly Edward III. The young cousins were made to swear and oath that they would never take up arms against each other and were rewarded by being made knights of the blue garter.
Edward III died in 1377 and 10 year old Richard was crowned.
One of Richard II’s earliest challenges was the Peasant’s Revolt of 1381. The Black Death had swept through Europe killing up to half of Europe’s population.
Peasants working hard to generate profits for landowners were therefore thin on the ground and on top of that income from rents had collapsed.
How would those in charge pay for things like trinkets, horses and the 100-year war Edward III had just started?
Simple. A poll tax. Three of them were introduced between 1377 and 1381 forcing already poor peasants to hand over even more of their hard earned pennies.
Eventually, the Peasants had enough and riots broke out across the country.
Peasant armies - many of them well trained archers thanks to Edward III’s efforts to create a kingdom of warriors - marched on London.
Their target wasn’t the king but the greedy aristocrats around him.
Nobles such as the King’s uncle John of Gaunt, whose Savoy Palace was burnt to a cinder.
The peasants were inspired by several leaders - one of them a radical priest who impassioned them with the famous words - when Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?
London seemed leaderless. The young King - holed up in the Tower of London for his own protection - took charge and issued a charter of liberties after which some of the peasants dispersed. He also left the Tower and confronted the rebels.
At Mile End he came face to face with another peasant leader Wat Tyler. Why hadn’t the men of Kent and Essex gone home, he asked?
A row ensued and the Lord Mayor of London stabbed Tyler in front of the King. The atmosphere was suddenly very dangerous - Richard however rode up to the peasant army, told them ‘I’m your leader, follow me’ and amazingly the angry mob did just that and dispersed.
2 окт 2024
