Depth 1 - The crises of 1399-1405

To what extent was Richard II responsible for the crises of 1399?

The reasons for Bolingbroke's seixure of the throne from Richard II

The long-term causes of the 1399 crisis

• Son of loved parents - Edward the black prince
• Child king - caused tensions between nobles - John of Gaunt, Thomas of Woodstock
• 1377-81 - French attacks and high taxation 
• 1381 - 'Peasants' Revolt' - hated poll tax - blamed evil councillors
• Richard forgave them, promised improvement - later revoked pardons and executed them
• 1347 Black Death - caused class tension - shortage of labour increased wages - nobles and gentry unhappy - 1350 Statute of Labourers passed to keep wages down
• Marriage with Anne of Bohemia arranged by de la Pole and Simon Burley - people not happy as was expensive (£12,000) and no military assistance

Richard's failings as an adult monarch

• Accused of favouritism - e.g. William de la Pole and Robert de Vere - disliked men who Richard gave lots of land and power
• Generosity unsustainable - led to debt
• Accused of pro-French lenanings - not into the war, grew up in France
• Didn't lead military expeditions himself - tried for peace with France
• Alienated Gaunt in Scotland - bottled attacking Edinburgh - Gaunt left for Spain

The 'Wonderful Parliament' of 1386 and its consequences

• Parliament demanded de la Pole be reomved from office - Richard refused
• Meeting between Richard and nobles - told him that parliament could dissolve and no taxation would come
• Richard angry - threatened to seek help from French
• Thomas of Woodstock and Thomas Arundel threatened to depose the king
• Richard forced to meet with parliament and watch favourite fall. Also inquiry into royal finances
• Richard angry - started moving round - de Vere made justice of Chester - looked for miltary and legal advice there
• 'Lords appellant' (including Henry Bolingbroke) accused favoruites of treason
• Battle at Radcot Bridge - de Vere/ de la Pole defeated - they fled
• 'Merciless Parliament' 1388 - Richard's favourites tried for treason - Richard angry
• Consequences limited - John of Gaunt returned to bring back some stability - sent Henry on trip round Europe - became great warrior

Richard II and the problems of the royal succession

• Anne of Bohemia dead in 1394 with no heir
• Technically heir was Roger Mortimer - however John of Gaunt had strong claim and support - Gaunt and Henry threats to Richard
• Richard II refused to marry again - death of Anne made him unstable
• Married Isabella (daughter of French king) - only a child so remained unconsumated - accompanied 28-year truce - controversial

The 'tryanny' of Richard II, 1397-99

• Richard allied with France because more independant from parliament (no taxation) and could use their help to suppress nobles - very paranoid
• July 1397 - arrested 3 of lord's appalent - Gloucester, Warwick and Arundel
• Gaunt and Bolingbroke sided with king - Henry betrayed Arundel, Gloucester murdered
• Gorwing unease of tryanny of richard
• Bolingbroke begged pardon for 1387 and hosted feasts…