House / Group: Plantagenet
Born / died: 1367-1400
Reign: 1377-1399
The second son of Edward, Prince of Wales (the eldest son of Edward III) and his cousin Joan (grand-daughter of Edward I). Richard became his father's heir when his elder brother Edward died in infancy and heir to the throne when his father died in 1376.
Richard came to the throne at the age of 10 and his uncle John of Gaunt (Edward III's third son) ruled on his behalf at first. The young king showed early promise in ending the Peasants' Revolt, but he proved an inept politician and a tyrannical king.
His first wife was Anne of Bohemia (daughter of Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor). After Anne died 12 years later, he married Princess Isabella of Valois (daughter of Charles VI of France). He had no children from either union.
With no direct heir, Richard was determined that John of Gaunt's son Henry would not become king and banished him, but when Richard left for a campaign in Ireland, Henry returned and was urged to take the throne.
Richard was eventually forced to abdicate and ended his life in Pontefract Castle, either murdered or starved to death.
It was important to establish his death and so his body was displayed in St Paul's Cathedral before burial in Kings Langley Church. Bizarrely, his coffin was insecure and allegedly parts of his skeleton were stolen. Rumours of his survival persisted into Henry V's reign and he was reburied ostentatiously in Westminster Abbey in 1413.
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