Richard II Coins

King Richard II History

Richard II was born in Bordeaux, which at the time was a principality under the control of the English. His father, Edward the Black Prince, was the son of King Edward III. A distinguished military commander, the Black Prince eventually contracted dysentery and – after six years of illness – died in 1376.

With no other surviving heirs, Richard became the heir apparent, and was crowned in 1377 at the age of ten. His reign faced many challenges; war with France was becoming increasingly expensive, and in order to finance the campaign a poll tax had been introduced. The continual taxation eventually led to the Peasants' Revolt, further straining the economy, and later the Lords Appellant in 1387.

King Richard II's authority was still at risk from the House of Lancaster, under the leadership of John of Gaunt, and his son Henry of Bolingbroke. When Gaunt died, Richard blocked Henry from inheriting his father's lands. The move was too big a gamble, and Henry retaliated by deposing Richard; imprisoning him, and taking the crown for himself as Henry IV.

Richard eventually died while in prison; this was generally accepted to be caused by starvation, although there is disagreement over whether this was forced, or the result of depression at his new situation.