Richard II: Makers of History

In Short

This narrative history chronicles the turbulent reign and ultimate downfall of King Richard II, setting his life against the broader backdrop of fourteenth-century feudal England. Beginning with the warlike legacy of his grandfather Edward III and his father, the Black Prince, the narrative traces Richard’s child coronation, his dramatic encounter with Wat Tyler’s peasant rebellion, his bitter internal feuds with noble rivals, and his eventual deposition and death. It remains an enduring historical portrait because it captures the human frailty, violent power struggles, and dramatic transitions of the chivalric age in clear, accessible prose.

The Story

The narrative opens by establishing the grand, martial heritage into which Richard II is born. Europe is defined by knightly prowess, feudal rivalries, and sweeping military campaigns. Edward III lays claim to the French crown, launching bloody wars that showcase the tactical brilliance of his eldest son, the Black Prince. At famous battles like Crecy and Poictiers, the Black Prince earns renown for his tactical cunning and his generous treatment of captured enemies, including King John of France. Yet this heroic era is marred by constant financial strain, illness, and tragedy. The Black Prince contracts a lingering disease during a Spanish expedition and dies before his father, leaving his young son Richard as the immediate heir to the English throne.

Richard ascends to the crown in 1377 at just ten years of age. His coronation is marked by magnificent pageantry, including conduits running with wine and golden leaves showered from artificial castle towers, yet the boy inherits a deeply troubled realm. Deep social unrest, fueled by heavy taxation and long-standing feudal oppression, erupts into Wat Tyler’s Insurrection. A massive army of angry peasants and laborers marches on London, burning mansions like the Duke of Lancaster’s Savoy palace and storming the Tower. In a decisive moment, the teenage king rides out to meet the armed mob at Smithfield; after Tyler is slain, Richard boldly steps forward, declares himself their leader, and coaxes the rebels to disperse before revoking their promised pardons.

As Richard grows into adulthood, his reign is plagued by fierce factionalism and intense personal rivalries. Lacking the martial tastes of his ancestors, Richard surrounds himself with favorites, alienating his powerful, ambitious uncles—most notably John of Gaunt and the Duke of Gloucester. Courts and camps become breeding grounds for paranoia, revenge, and assassination. Distrusting Gloucester’s influence, Richard personally orchestrates his uncle's covert arrest, shipping him off to Calais where he is secretly murdered in his cell.

The King’s personal life offers brief interludes of affection—first through his gentle marriage to "Good Queen Anne," whose early death leaves him heartbroken, and later through a political union with Isabella, a young French princess known as the "Little Queen." However, Richard's autocratic tendencies and arbitrary confiscations of land ultimately undo him. When he seizes the estates of his exiled cousin, Henry of Bolingbroke, Henry returns with an army to reclaim his heritage. Supported by a dissatisfied nobility, Bolingbroke forces Richard off the throne, assumes the crown as Henry IV, and imprisons the deposed king in Pontefract Castle, where Richard meets a mysterious and untimely end.

How It Unfolds

The foundation of knightly power Long before Richard takes the throne, his ancestors establish the brutal norms of feudal rule through subjection, violent levies on persecuted groups, and territorial conquests in Wales and France.

The triumph of the Black Prince At the Battle of Poictiers, Richard’s famed father routs a far larger French force and captures King John, securing international renown and setting a high standard of martial chivalry.

A boy king crowned Following the premature deaths of the Black Prince and Edward III, ten-year-old Richard is carried through London’s celebratory streets and anointed king amidst lavish public displays.

Rebellion at the gates Grievously taxed and oppressed, thousands of peasants under Wat Tyler storm London, destroying grand palaces until young Richard personally confronts the crowd at Smithfield to quell the uprising.

Plots and bloody purges As adult royal authority collides with factional noblemen, Richard lures his uncle, the Duke of Gloucester, into a trap, leading to the duke’s secret execution in Calais and the beheading of rival barons.

Fall and final deposition Richard’s arbitrary rule and seizure of noble lands drive his exiled cousin Henry Bolingbroke to invade, resulting in Richard's capture, formal deposition, and secretive death in prison.

The People

• Richard II: A boy who becomes king at age ten, thrust into power without the warlike temperament of his ancestors; he wants absolute authority and personal devotion, but his impulse control, favoritism, and autocratic overreach alienate his nobles, leaving him deposed and imprisoned.
• Edward, the Black Prince: Richard's legendary father, renowned across Europe for his military genius and chivalric grace at Crecy and Poictiers; he strives to win campaigns and secure his lineage, but a terminal illness ends his life before he can inherit the throne.
• Wat Tyler: A humble tiler who emerges as the fiery leader of the common people's revolt; he demands an end to feudal servitude and oppressive taxation, but his aggressive confrontation with the king leads directly to his sudden death.
• John of Gaunt (Duke of Lancaster): Richard’s powerful, ambitious uncle who seeks to influence royal governance and preserve his family's wealth; though he often balances loyalty with self-interest, his son ultimately overthrows Richard.
• Henry of Bolingbroke: Richard's pragmatic cousin who seeks the restoration of his stolen inheritance; when Richard usurps his lands, Henry gathers popular support, deposes the king, and takes the crown as King Henry IV.

In Its Own Voice

"The lower classes of the people of England had been held substantially as slaves by the nobles and gentry for many generations."

When describing Wat Tyler’s uprising, the text highlights how centuries of servitude and sudden taxation drove the common populace into a desperate, nationwide revolt.

"Victory! The enemy is beaten and driven wholly off the ground."

Sir John Chandos delivers this triumphant news to the Black Prince on the battlefield of Poictiers, marking the collapse of the French army.

"Gentlemen, you have no leader but me. I am your king. Remain quiet and peaceable."

Facing a dangerous mob immediately after Wat Tyler is killed, young Richard bravely rides forward to assert his authority and disperse the angry insurgents.

What It's Really About

Underneath its fast-paced recount of battles and royal court drama, the book examines the precarious nature of absolute power and the decay of medieval chivalry. It contrasts the idealized knightly code—where kings and princes showcase immense generosity toward aristocratic prisoners—with the harsh reality imposed upon the lower classes, who are treated as mere property until they violently revolt. The narrative reveals how a monarch’s personal flaws, excessive favoritism, and disregard for established law can destroy the divine right of kings. Ultimately, it asks whether a ruler can govern through arbitrary force alone when the surrounding nobility and common people lose faith in his justice.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy narrative history, medieval lore, and clean, unpretentious storytelling will find this account engaging. It moves briskly, stripping away dense academic jargon in favor of clear scene-setting, vivid anecdotes, and dramatic character arcs. The book offers a fascinating look into fourteenth-century life, illustrating everything from medieval siege engines and ancient castles to intricate crown politics and fashion trends.

It does not shy away from the harsh, uncomfortable realities of the Middle Ages. The prose unsparingly documents the severe anti-Semitism of the era, brutal public executions, and the rigid class structure that kept the majority of the population in virtual slavery. Readers should expect an older narrative style that reflects nineteenth-century historical perspectives, where the ruling classes write the records and noble conflicts take center stage. Yet, its clarity, memorable historical figures, and dramatic narrative pacing make it an inviting entry point for anyone curious about the tragic downfall of Richard II and the transformation of feudal England.