The New Murrey and Blue blog

If you study the above image (taken from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QIEHdwpAQc) you could be forgiven for thinking the video it comes from concerns someone from around about Cromwell’s era. But no! The King Locked Away. Never Left Alive is about Richard II, who was 14^th century! So the makers of the above 1 minute 16 second video couldn’t even be bothered to find a portrait from the right century.

Nor, I fear, could they be bothered to get their facts right about the identity of Richard II’s father. That role actually went to Edward of Woodstock, the Black Prince, who was the eldest son and heir of Edward III, but who died before Edward. Therefore the next heir to the throne became the prince’s only son, a young boy, Richard of Bordeaux, Richard II. You’d think a figure like the Black Prince would stand out to creators of this video. But no, they bungle it and claim instead that Richard’s uncle, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, was his father.

Well, then they add the usual slur upon Richard’s memory that on Gaunt’s death he confiscated forever the entire Lancastrian estate, lock, stock and barrel. This isn’t true, but the ins and outs are too long for this present article. You can read more at:https://murreyandblue.co.uk/2024/12/10/the-duchy-of-lancaster-controversy-that-began-in-the-14th-century/

Before Gaunt’s death Richard had banished the duke’s tiresome son and heir, Henry of Bolingbroke, who, naturally enough, wasn’t amused to be left penniless. Well, he had much more than a penny, but you get my drift. So when Richard’s back was turned (having rather unadvisedly gone to Ireland to try to sort things out there) Bolingbroke successfully invaded England, claiming he only wanted his inheritance returned. Well, he soon captured Richard and locked him away at Pontefract Castle. Within a couple of months Richard II was dead, and Bolingbroke was Henry IV, England’s first Lancastrian usurper. So much for Bolingbroke only wanting his patrimony back. He’d intended to steal the throne all along.

For once there aren’t a string of slurs on Richard’s reputation, only the one about the Lancastrian inheritance. He’s just referred to as the rightful king, without being mad, tyrannical, vindictive* or untrustworthy from head to toe. And there’s the usual speculation about how he died at Pontefract. From what I’ve learned of Richard, I doubt very much that he committed suicide by whatever means. He believed he was king by God’s wish, and would, I’m certain, have confronted his fate with courage. One charge that can never be levelled against Richard II was that he was a coward.

He was murdered at the hands of/by the command of the usurper Bolingbroke, who, by the way, was his first cousin, although if the video-makers had their way (John of Gaunt being Richard’s father, remember?) the creep was Richard’s brother.

So here I am again, on my hind legs braying in support of Richard II, who does NOT deserve to be maligned. But then, we Ricardians know there was another King Richard who was murdered and usurped by a Lancastrian Henry, don’t we?

A much longer video about the reign of Richard II can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahK929DvCLk The title—Richard II: The Rise and Fall of England’s Most Tragic King—encouraged me. At last, thought I, something that’s on Richard’s side. And so it was, for the main part. However, the images ruined everything because they were so very anachronistic. A bit of a hoot, actually. Only 1 minute 44 seconds in (it’s 2 hours long all told), my heart sank to see images of an eighteenth-century horseman, ships that might have been Nelson’s…and Union Jacks flapping in a sea breeze. Soon after this we have the Redcoats, no less! For around 1377? For Pete’s own sake! What is it with these video-makers? So perhaps it’s best to keep your eyes closed and just listen for two hours. I confess I didn’t make it that far, I just couldn’t cope with the illustrations.

Finally, a footnote: *Richard’s reputation for vindictiveness not only stems from the Lancastrian inheritance business, but also from his revenge on the Lords Appellant (https://tinyurl.com/4mmur4vd ) Well, after the treatment those lords dealt out to Richard, I’m not surprised if he wanted his own back. I would have too! Only a saint would have taken all that without a murmur.

by viscountessw