Richard II (1367-1400)

An illustration from a 14th-century manuscript of French historian Jean Froissart's Chronicles. The picture shows Richard II of England as a prisoner in the Tower of London, England. The king is relinquishing his crown and sceptre to Henry, Duke of Lancaster, who subsequently became king as Henry IV.

King Richard II of England disguised in a black priest's cowl at Conway Castle.

Richard II of England and his patron saints, portrayed on the Wilton Diptych. From left to right, these are St Edmund and St Edward the Confessor (earlier English kings who came to be venerated as saints), and St John the Baptist. This scene was painted by an unknown artist, on one of two panels on a portable altarpiece designed for the king's private prayer.

King of England from 1377 (effectively from 1389), son of Edward the Black Prince. He reigned in conflict with Parliament; they executed some of his associates in 1388, and he executed a number of the opposing barons in 1397, whereupon he made himself absolute. Two years later, forced to abdicate in favour of Henry IV, he was jailed and probably assassinated.

In 1381 Richard was faced with the Peasants' Revolt, a result of the imposition of a poll tax in 1380. The leader of the revolt, Wat Tyler, was stabbed and killed at Smithfield by the lord mayor of London, fearing for the safety of the king. Richard's apparent courage in facing the mobs gathered at Mile End and Smithfield also contributed to the failure of the uprising.

In 1399 his cousin Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Hereford (later Henry IV), returned from exile to lead a revolt; Richard II was deposed by Parliament and imprisoned in Pontefract Castle, where he died mysteriously.