Richard II of England

Richard II of England, also known as Richard the Irritating or Richard the Insufferable, was the last of the Plantagenet kings and ruled from 1377 to 1399. He was perhaps the most useless king England ever had, and his reign was full of drama, chaos, and bad hair days.

Early Life

Richard was born in 1367 to the Black Prince, Edward III’s eldest son, and Joan of Kent. His mother was known for her beauty, but Richard sadly did not inherit it. He did, however, inherit his father’s love for lavish spending and extravagance.

Reign

Richard’s reign was marked by widespread dissatisfaction among the nobles, who constantly regaled him with complaints about his ruling style. He was even forced to defend his throne against some nobles who called themselves the Lords Appellant. Unfortunately for Richard, he was the king in terms of title only, with the real power lying in the hands of his council.

Foibles

Richard was known for his effeminate mannerisms and had a proclivity for wearing brightly colored mantles with fur trimmings. He was also known to wear excessively large hats, which reportedly caused widespread eye-rolling among his subjects.

Downfall

Richard’s downfall came in 1399 when he was deposed and replaced with his cousin, Henry of Bolingbroke, who became Henry IV. Richard, after being locked up in various castles, was finally murdered in Pontefract Castle, where he was starved to death. It is said that he died a slow and agonizing death, at least they didn’t have to deal with him anymore.

Legacy

Richard is largely regarded as one of the worst kings in English history, a leader whose ineptitude and ridiculous antics would be comical if they were not so tragic. He is remembered by historians as a king who was more interested in his own appearance and potty training his pet monkey than in governing his kingdom.