The Usurper King The Fall Of Richard Ii And The Rise Of Henry Of Bolingbroke 1366 99

An in-depth study of an astounding moment in English medieval history. Ideal for people who wish to learn more about the tragic demise of Richard II or the life of his usurper, Henry IV. On 1 October 1399, Richard II, was deposed from the English throne. After succeeding to the throne as a ten year old he had faced the Peasants' Revolt in 1381, challenges from his nobles and Parliament and the threat of French invasion, and yet his crown was taken from him by a member of his own family, his cousin, Henry of Bolingbroke. What was the relationship between these two Plantagenet princes who were both grandchildren of Edward III? And how was Henry able to usurp the throne of England at a time when so many believed in the divine rights of kings? Marie Louise Bruce's exceptional biography of these two medieval English monarchs utilises a variety of well-researched original sources to provide fascinating insight into their parallel lives, from 1366, as young royal princes, to 1399 when Richard II was deposed and Henry took the crown with the support of an invasion force of no more than three hundred men. The Usurper Kingdom is a remarkable book that sheds light on one of the most colourful, turbulent and least known periods of English history.

Historical Dictionary of the British Monarchy, Second Edition contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has more than 800 cross-referenced entries that cover significant events, places, institutions, and other aspects of British culture, economics, politics, and society.

First published in 1986.

Chronicles of the Revolution covers one of the most controversial and shocking episodes in medieval English history, the 'tyranny' and deposition of Richard II and the usurpation of the throne by his cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, who became King Henry IV. Contemporaries were sharply divided about the rights and wrongs of both Richard and Henry, and this division is reflected in the texts which form the major part of the book. All the principal contemporary chronicles are represented in this volume, from the violently partisan Thomas Walsingham, chronicler of St Alban's Abbey who saw Richard as a tyrant and murderer, to the indignant Dieulacres chronicler, who claimed that the 'innocent king' was tricked into surrender by his perjured barons. This range of material is also prefaced by a substantial and stimulating introduction offering new insights into Richard's later years and the events which precipitated his downfall. Additionally, the documents are accompanied by expert commentary and analysis which guides readers while leaving them free to make the ultimate conclusions about these dramatic years. This book will be invaluable for medieval historians as well as undergraduate and postgraduate students of later medieval English history.

In the Middle Ages, England had to contend with a string of usurpers who disrupted the British monarchy and ultimately changed the course of European history by deposing England's reigning kings and seizing power for themselves. Some of the most infamous usurper kings to come out of medieval England include William the Conqueror, Stephen of Blois, Henry Bolingbroke, Edward IV, Richard III, and Henry Tudor. Did these kings really deserve the title of usurper or were they unfairly vilified by royal propaganda and biased chroniclers? In this book we examine the lives of these six medieval kings, the circumstances which brought each of them to power, and whether or not they deserve the title of usurper. Along the way readers will hear stories of some of the most fascinating people from medieval Europe, including Empress Matilda, the woman who nearly succeeded at becoming the first ruling Queen of England; Eleanor of Aquitaine, the queen of both France and England who stirred her own sons to rebel against their father, Henry II; the cruel and vengeful reign of Richard II which caused his own family to overthrow him; the epic struggle for power between Henry VI, Margaret of Anjou, Richard of York, and Edward IV during the Wars of the Roses; the notorious Richard III and his monstrous reputation as a child-killer; and Henry VII who rose from relative obscurity to establish the most famous royal family of all time: the Tudors.

The three Richards who ruled England in the Middle Ages were among the most controversial and celebrated of its rulers. Richard I ('Coeur de Lion', 1189-99) was a great crusading hero; Richard II (1377-99) was an authoritarian aesthete deposed by his cousin, Henry IV, and murdered; while Richard III (1483-85), as the murderer of his nephews, 'The Princes in the Tower', was the most notorious villain in English history. This highly readable joint biography shows how much the three kings had in common, apart from their names. All were younger sons of monarchs, not expected to come to the throne; all failed to leave a legitimate heir, causing instability on their deaths; all were cultured and pious; and all died violently. All have attracted accusations but also fascination. In comparing them, Nigel Saul tells three gripping stories and shows what it took to be a medieval king.