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In June1399, Richard made the mistake of returning to Ireland. Bolingbroke – now Duke of Lancaster after the death of John of Gaunt - took the opportunity to invade England. Such was the unpopularity of the king that there was little resistance. Richard returned from Ireland to be taken on landing in Wales. He agreed to abdicate and Parliament met to formally depose him. He was incarcerated in the Lancaster stronghold of Pontefract Castle, where he died, possibly of starvation, in early 1400. He left no heirs. He was succeeded by his cousin Bolingbroke as Henry IV.

In June1399, Richard made the mistake of returning to Ireland. Bolingbroke – now Duke of Lancaster after the death of John of Gaunt - took the opportunity to invade England. Such was the unpopularity of the king that there was little resistance. Richard returned from Ireland to be taken on landing in Wales. He agreed to abdicate and Parliament met to formally depose him. He was incarcerated in the Lancaster stronghold of Pontefract Castle, where he died, possibly of starvation, in early 1400. He left no heirs. He was succeeded by his cousin Bolingbroke as Henry IV.

Richard’s reign is notable for the use of [[Parliament]] as a political means to an end. That Parliament was used as the instrument in the deposition of Richard, is an indication of its growing importance in the minds of the political class. There were other indications that the [[Middle Ages]] was moving towards something else. There were new fashions, new movements in art and literature, the move from the plain castle to the crenelated palace, the first stirrings of a [[protestant]] movement within the Church. It was the age of [[Wyclif’s Bible]], and [[The Canterbury Tales]].  

Richard’s reign is notable for the use of [[Parliament]] as a political means to an end. That Parliament was used as the instrument in the deposition of Richard, is an indication of its growing importance in the minds of the political class. There were other indications that the [[Middle Ages]] was moving towards something else. There were new fashions, new movements in art and literature, the move from the plain castle to the crenelated palace, the first stirrings of a [[protestant]] movement within the Church. It was the age of [[John Wyclif|Wyclif’s Bible]], and The [[Canterbury Tales]].  

Richard's political ineptitude, his lifelong reaction to his being bullied during his early reign, and his childlessness, set the scene for future periods of dynastic disruption that were to explode into the [[Wars of the Roses]] fifty-odd years later.

Richard's political ineptitude, his lifelong reaction to his being bullied during his early reign, and his childlessness, set the scene for future periods of dynastic disruption that were to explode into the [[Wars of the Roses]] fifty-odd years later.

References:  

References:  

• Oxford Companion to British History.

• Oxford Companion to British History.

• Thomas B. Costaine: “The Last Plantagenets”.

• Thomas B. Costaine: “The Last Plantagenets”.