Deposition and the Wars of the Roses

Examiners look for the contrast between Richard's elevated court culture and the traditional martial kingship of his grandfather, Edward III. Richard distanced himself from his nobles by demanding to be called "Your Highness" or "Your Majesty". He rebuilt Westminster Hall with imposing statues of himself and granted his personal White Hart badge to a private guard of over 300 Cheshire archers, demonstrating military power outside the traditional feudal system.

The "Tyranny" and Deposition of Richard II

Between 1397 and 1399, Richard launched a period of "Tyranny" to take revenge on the Lords Appellant, a group of five powerful nobles who had previously restricted his power. He executed the Earl of Arundel, exiled the Earl of Warwick, and murdered the Duke of Gloucester while in custody.

Richard increasingly relied on unpopular favorites like Robert de Vere and Michael de la Pole, deeply alienating the established aristocracy. The breaking point came in 1399 when Richard seized the Duchy of Lancaster following the death of his uncle, John of Gaunt. He permanently exiled Gaunt's son, Henry Bolingbroke, denying him his rightful inheritance.

While Richard was in Ireland suppressing a rebellion, Bolingbroke landed at Ravenspur, Yorkshire. Initially claiming he only wanted his land back, he quickly gathered northern support from powerful families like the Percys. Richard was severely delayed, eventually surrendering at Flint Castle in August 1399.

The Usurpation of Henry IV

Richard formally abdicated in September 1399, but to legally justify removing an anointed king, Parliament read 33 charges of tyranny against him. This formal deposition accused Richard of violating the laws of the land and claiming the "laws were in his own breast."

Bolingbroke claimed the throne as Henry IV, committing a direct act of usurpation. Because he bypassed the senior royal bloodline (the Mortimers), his actions severely damaged the legitimacy of the Crown and triggered immediate rebellions.

This created a dangerous new precedent for English politics. It proved that a monarch could be legally removed for incompetence or tyranny by a parliament, destroying the strict rule of hereditary succession and laying the groundwork for future civil wars.

Weak Kingship and the Wars of the Roses

The long-term consequences of Bolingbroke's usurpation exploded during the reign of Henry VI. The Wars of the Roses (1455–1487) were a series of sporadic civil wars driven by a Dynastic Conflict between the House of Lancaster and the House of York.

Henry VI was a disastrously weak leader, perceived as pious and simple rather than a warrior. He suffered a complete mental collapse (catatonia) for 18 months starting in August 1453. During this period of incapacity, Richard, Duke of York, was appointed to lead a Protectorate, governing the country as "Lord Protector." This tasted power for the Yorkists and deepened factional divides.

Furthermore, military failures like the Battle of Castillon (1453) lost England all its French territories except Calais, leaving thousands of armed soldiers unemployed. Because Henry was weak and heavily influenced by greedy advisors like the Duke of Suffolk, factionalism tore the country apart.

Key turning points included the "Parliament of Devils" (1459), where the Lancastrians issued an Act of Attainder against the Yorkist leaders. This legally declared them traitors and seized their lands, leaving the Yorkists with no choice but to fight for the throne to survive. The incredibly bloody Battle of Towton (1461) followed, leaving an estimated 28,000 dead. The wars finally ended when Henry Tudor defeated Richard III at Bosworth Field in 1485.

Bastard Feudalism and the Over-mighty Subject

The civil wars were fought using a corrupted social structure known as Bastard Feudalism. Crucially, unlike traditional feudalism which exchanged land for military service, this system was based entirely on patronage and cash payments.

Wealthy magnates built massive private armies, known as an affinity or retinue. These professional soldiers wore their lord's livery (such as a specific badge or jacket) and were fiercely loyal to their paymaster rather than the King.

This system created the Over-mighty Subject — a noble with enough wealth and men to rival the Crown. The most famous example was Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick ("The Kingmaker"), who used his vast affinity to depose both Henry VI and Edward IV.

Lords also used their power to protect their followers from justice, a corrupt practice known as maintenance. Local juries were routinely bribed or intimidated, proving that an over-mighty noble's law was stronger than the King's law.

Analysing Political Instability

Political stability in 15th-century England can be understood through a simple relationship between royal authority and noble power:

$$\text{Stability} = \text{Strong King} + \text{Controlled Nobility}$$ $$\text{Instability} = \text{Weak King} + \text{Bastard Feudalism} \rightarrow \text{Over-mighty Nobles}$$

To restore stability at the end of the Wars of the Roses, Henry VII systematically destroyed the power of the over-mighty subjects. He passed the Acts of Livery and Maintenance in 1487 and 1504, levying crippling fines on any noble who retained a private army without a royal license.