Richard II, born on January 6, 1367, at Bordeaux, was the son of Edward, the Black Prince and Joan of Kent. He succeeded to the English throne at the tender age of ten following the death of his grandfather, Edward III, in 1377. His reign, which lasted until 1399, was marked by political instability, economic challenges, and personal controversies.
Due to his youth, the government was initially managed by a council of regents, including John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, Richard's uncle. This period was characterized by the influence of powerful nobles and the ongoing Hundred Years' War with France. Richard's early years were fraught with tension between the royal court and the Lords Appellant, a group of nobles who sought to limit the power of the king's advisors.
Richard began to assert his independence in the late 1380s, dismissing his regents and attempting to rule autocratically. His actions included the "Revenge Parliament" in 1397, where he purged his opponents. However, his rule was not popular, and he faced significant opposition, particularly from Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Hereford, who was later to become Henry IV.
After his deposition, Richard was imprisoned in Pontefract Castle, where he died on February 14, 1400. The exact circumstances of his death remain uncertain, with theories ranging from starvation to assassination.
Richard II's legacy is complex. He was remembered for his patronage of art and culture, being a great patron of Gothic architecture and literature, notably sponsoring Geoffrey Chaucer. His reign also saw the introduction of the Statute of Cambridge, which had implications for labor laws. However, his autocratic style, failure to manage the nobility, and the eventual usurpation of his throne by Henry IV marked his reign as turbulent and ultimately tragic.