Richard II

Edward III died 21 June 1377 and his ten-year-old grandson, Richard II succeeded to the throne.

During Richard's minority, state affairs were largely run by his uncle, John of Gaunt. Richard had friends amongst his courtiers, in particular, Sir Michael de la Pole (later Earl of Suffolk), who arranged his marriage in January 1382 to Anne of Bohemia, daughter of the Emperor Charles IV.
Richard soon became devoted to Anne, who was plain but affectionate, and he was deeply distressed by her death from plague in 1394. When Richard, Earl of Arundel was late for her funeral, Richard knocked him to the ground.

The continuing war with France kept taxation high, and was resulting in defeats - not victories. In 1377, French raiders landed at Rottingdean, (a village between Brighton and Eastbourne), and burnt many of its citizens alive in the belfry of the church.
Along with Castile (also at war with England), the French launched other destructive raids on the South Coast of England

Rottingdean Church
(scorch marks are still visible on parts of its stone work).

Those excluded from power blamed royal extravagance and greedy favorites for England's problems. As early as 1377, the Commons voted taxation only on condition that two special treasurers be appointed to ensure that it was properly collected and spent only on warfare - not on courtiers. Such restrictions never became normal, but are indicative of the general discontent.

By the mid 1380s Richard himself was discontented with John of Gaunt's domination. John in turn made clear his disapproval of Richard's friends at court. In 1386, John of Gaunt left for Spain to try and assert his claim (through his wife Constance) to the throne of Castile.

In 1385, Richard II personally led an expedition against the Scots. It achieved virtually nothing, apart from wreaking destruction in the Scottish Lowlands - including burning down Melrose Abbey.

The surviving remains of the rebuilt Melrose Abbey

The increasing opposition to Richard II was led by his uncle, Thomas of Woodstock - the youngest of Edward III's sons. Although he was Richard's uncle, he was only twelve years older than him.

The bad-tempered Thomas was not appeased by being made Duke of Gloucester in 1385 — but he was irritated that Robert de Vere (an extravagant and empty-headed courtier) was appointed Duke of Ireland shortly afterwards. In the "Wonderful Parliament" (1386) Thomas forced Richard to dismiss Michael de la Pole and allow England to be ruled by a baronial council.

Woodstock found allies in John of Gaunt's son, Henry of Bolingbroke (Earl of Derby and later Duke of Hereford;) Richard Fitzalan, 11th Earl of Arundel; Thomas (de) Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick; and Thomas Mowbray (Earl of Nottingham, and later Duke of Norfolk.) When Richard tried to act against them in 1387, these magnates made a formal appeal in parliament against Richard's friends - Michael de la Pole (Earl of Suffolk), Robert de Vere, Robert Tresilian, Sir Nicholas Brembre and Alexander Neville, Archbishop of York. The five magnates who made the appeal were known as the "Lords Appellant."

The execution of Robert Tresilian

De la Pole, and Archbishop Neville managed to escape abroad. In 1387 De Vere headed north and tried to raise forces to fight for Richard's cause . However, he was surrounded at Radcot Bridge (which crosses the Thames in Oxfordshire) and forced to flee.
The "Merciless Parliament" in February 1388 ordered the execution of Sir Nicholas Brembre and Robert Tresilian; both died on Tyburn Hill. De Vere, de la Pole and Neville were pronounced guilty of treason in absentia.

Richard could not resist the Appellants at once, but he never ceased to resent their power. Perhaps influenced by a secularized version of the views of Giles of Rome, Richard believed that kings should be unquestioningly obeyed by their subjects.

The years that followed were a time of appeasement, but Richard's policy was to build up enough support to undo the events of 1387-8.