richard-ii-of-england-surrenders-to-his-cousin-henry

On August 19, 1399, King Richard II of England surrendered to his cousin Henry. Henry would go on to become King Henry IV the of father of Henry the V (of the Battle of Agincourt fame). From the article:

"Richard II of England Surrenders to His Cousin Henry
19 August 1399

The English monarchy has been punctuated with incident and intrigue throughout its long and sometimes bloody history. Blackmail, betrayal, and even murder have played their part in the long-running saga of royal patronage, and, especially in its earliest days, a peaceful and uneventful reign was the exception rather than the norm. This sense of tumult was spectacularly inflamed in the last few months of the 14th century when Richard II, King of England since the age of 10, was compelled to give up his crown and submit to the advances of his cousin, Henry of Bolingbroke, on this day in 1399. It brought to a close a troubled reign for the adolescent king, and hastened his untimely demise.

Richard came to the throne in 1377, following the death of his grandfather, the long-lived and well-respected Edward III. His youth and inexperience dictated that in the early years of reign, the business of state was carried out by a number of councils, consisting of influential courtiers and noblemen. Among this political elite was the young king’s uncle, John of Gaunt.

As he grew older, so his confidence increased, and by the mid-1380s Richard II was ruling with considerable zeal. He displayed a ruthless streak that worried some of the nobility, who decided that the King’s power should be diluted. In 1387 a group of noblemen known as the Lords Appellants convened to undermine the King, along with those favourites of Richard II who constituted his inner circle. Among the Lords Appellant was Richard’s own cousin, the son of John of Gaunt, Henry of Bolingbroke. The Appellants charged several of Richard’s closest allies with treason, and instigated an armed rebellion that ensured the King could no longer rule with impunity. Richard, in effect, was relegated to the status of a puppet, with neither power nor influence.

The situation improved for Richard, when John of Gaunt returned to England in 1389. John had been attempting to increase his influence in Spain, but his campaign had not gone well and he was forced to seek refuge back home. Power was gradually wrested back to Richard, and by 1397 the King was once again in control of governmental affairs. Initially he showed leniency to the Lords Appellant, but over time he punished the intriguers for their disloyalty, executing the ringleaders. Henry was forced into exile.

But Henry would soon regain the ascendancy. When John of Gaunt died in 1399, Richard, as a punishment to his cousin, decreed that he should be disinherited. Infuriated, Henry was spurred into action, and hatched a plot against the King. He returned to England, and began to muster support for an attack. He courted several powerful noblemen who were opposed to Richard, and marched through England, amassing a considerable army. As Henry’s support increased, so Richard’s fell away, and by the summer of 1399 it became clear he could not resist his cousin’s advances.

On 19 August 1399, Richard officially surrendered to his cousin. By October, Henry had ascended to the throne as Henry IV, and Richard, who relinquished all power in return for his life, was languishing in prison. His presence, however, remained problematic for Henry, and although the circumstances are unclear, he died during the following year."