Richard II

Year Start 1377
Year End 1399
Date of Birth 6th January 1367
Date of Death 14th February 1400

Richard II was born in France and for the first part of his reign could not rule because he was too young. At this time the country was run by his uncle, John of Gaunt, whose son Bolingbroke ended up murdering Richard II and became king himself.

King Richard II was faced with the peasants revolt in 1381 as a resolt of the poll tax thta he implemented. The leader of the revolt, Wat Tyler, was killed at Smithfield by the Lord Mayor of London after fearing for the King's safety. Richard ruled at the time of Chaucer the poet.