Richard II Biography

Birth of Richard II, son of Edward the Black Prince Prince of Aquitaine & Joan of Kent

Richard becomes heir to the throne & moves to England with his parents at Berkhamsted

Declared heir to the throne

Edward III names Richard II as his successor, then aged 10

Succeeds as King of England

The truce with France expires

Crowned in Westminster Abbey, 10 yr old grandson of Edward III

Anglo-French talks resume in Calais

The introduction of a poll tax for every adult later provokes a peasant rebellion

Parliament trebles the rate of Poll tax

Parliament declares that Richard is old enough to rule

French incursion reaches Newport on the Isle of Wight

Accompanies Chief Justice Tresilian around the country to enforce the rule of law

The Government resolved on a poll tax of three groats, which outraged the people because it was the same for rich and poor. Reacting to the introduction of the oppressive poll tax, which the king had imposed because not enough income had been collected the previous year, Tyler led a force of peasants in taking Canterbury, before advancing on to Blackheath, outside London

Reacting to the introduction of the oppressive poll tax, which the king had imposed because not enough income had been collected the previous year, Tyler led a force of peasants in taking Canterbury, before advancing on to Blackheath, outside London

Reacting to the introduction of the oppressive poll tax, which the king had imposed because not enough income had been collected the previous year, Tyler led a force of peasants in taking Canterbury, before advancing on to Blackheath, outside London

French incursion reaches Newport on the Isle of Wight

Richard of Wallingford presents a charter to King Richard II on behalf of Tyler

Richards council, led by his uncle John of Gaunt, provokes a rebellion. 100.000 men from Essex & Kent march on London

3 jurors are killed as a commission of enquiry attempts to overcome poll tax evasion

Insurgents from Gravesend storm Rochester Castle & free its prisoners

Peasants wait to meet Richard II, they have no arguement with him but he turns back

The Peasants revolt reaches the Tower of London. Takes refuge in the Tower & addresses the crowd in the Green. Arranges to meet the crowd the next day

Dragged from the Tower & beheaded on Tower Hill by the rebels

Rides to Mile End where rebels demand the abolition of serfdom. Rides out from the Tower to negotiate, agrees to freedom of contract of labour. Promises to meet demands & allow peasants to rent land at 4d per acre. Peasants demand the heads of Chancellor Sudbury, Treasurer Hales & John of Gaunt. Peasants demand rents of 4d an acre per year

Promises to grant a pardon but most of the rebels continue their destruction

Peasants break into the Tower of London & execute, among others, Simon Sudbury

Summons the rebels & meets Watt Tyler who is killed by Walworth during negotiations. Confronts Tyler who makes further demands, he is then cut down. After Tyler is killed his followers are pardoned, the revolt lasted less than a week

Revokes the pardons given to the rebels

Richard II presides over the tribunal at which John Ball is condemned to death

Proclaims a general amnesty to rebellious peasants, as suggested by Parliament

Marries Anne of Bohemia, daughter of Charles VI at St Stephens Chapel

Leads an army as far as Edinburgh but the Scots are not brought out into battle

The Government is taken over by the Council of 11 headed by the Gloucester

Parliament compels Richard to remove his Chancellor, Michael de la Pole

The Government is taken over by the Council of 11 headed by the Gloucester

Parliament compels Richard to remove his Chancellor, Michael de la Pole

Recognizes John of Gaunt as King of Castille

Concludes the Treaty of Windsor with Portugal

Promotes his favorite Robert de Vere from Marquis to Duke of Ireland

Gloucester & Bolingbroke defeat the Royalists under de Vere & the Earl of Suffolk

With Castillian assistance the French fleet attempts to invade England

Leaves Westminster & sets up a rival Council to the Council of eleven

Reforms the Royal Prerogative that renders the Parliament treasonous

Reforms the Royal Prerogative that renders the Parliament treasonous

With Castillian assistance the French fleet attempts to prepare an English invasion

The Duke of Gloucester strikes against the King's royal prerogative

Five Lords meet at Waltham Cross to appeal against Richards tyranny

The Merciless Parliament protests against Richards tyranny

Agrees to a three year truce with France

At the age of 23 Richard assumes full royal authority & dismisses his protectors

Regains control of the Government

The Mayor & sheriffs are removed, liberties are restored on payment of 10,000 pounds

Sets a territorial limit, known as "The Pale". Receives the feality of King's from 4 Irish provinces in Dublin Cathedral

Lands at the head of an army including his cousin & heir presumptive Roger Mortimer

Receives the submission of 80 Irish chiefs

Departs from Ireland after receiving the surrender of 80 Irish chiefs. Claims territorry known as the "English Pale"

Richard II & Charles VI agree peace at the Peace of Paris

England keeps Calais & part of Gascony. Charles agrees to support Richard if he is attacked, the peace lasts for 30 yrs

Marries Isabella of France, daughter of Charles VI

Parliament is reduced to a committee of 18. Parliament becomes the "Kings Parliament" as in early days of Edward I

The new Parliament revokes all legislation passed by the "Merciless Parliament"

Death of John of Gaunt, Richard confiscates his Lancaster Estate

John of Gaunt dies & Richard confiscates his Lancaster Estate

Orders Bolingbroke & Mowbray to fight a duel at Coventry then intercedes. Exiles Bolingbroke & Mowbray as his regime becomes more despotic

Henry IV, Bolingbroke, son of John of Gaunt, is banished by Richard II

Imprisoned in Pontefract Castle after trying to do away with Parliamentary Government

Confiscates Bolingbrokes inheritance & extends his exile from 10 yrs to life

Goes to Ireland to suppress the Irish revolt, Henry Bolingbroke can invade England

Hears of Bolingbrokes rebellion in Ireland & lands in England

At Conway castle Richard is tricked into returning Henry Bolingbrokes lands

Surrenders to Henry Bolingbroke at Flint Castle & is then imprisoned in the Tower

Richard II is captured & defeated by Bolingbroke

Forced to abdicate by the Earl of Hereford, son of John of Gaunt, who claims the crown. Abdicates under pressure from the nobles in the Tower of London

Parliament accepts Richards abdication & declares Bolingbroke Henry IV

Death of Richard II, assassinated

Assassinated in Pontefract castle, his body is later displayed in London

Disappears while imprisoned in Pontefract castle, his body is displayed in London