OCR Specification focus:
‘the influence and role of John of Gaunt; the renewal of war with France.’
Richard II’s early reign was shaped by political tension and war. Central was John of Gaunt, his uncle, whose influence over councils, parliament, and foreign policy fuelled controversy and discontent at court and in the wider realm.
John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (line engraving). This early modern engraving reflects how contemporaries and later historians represented Gaunt’s status and lineage, reinforcing his political prominence in Richard II’s minority. The image includes period conventions (armour and heraldic references) beyond the syllabus but helps students recognise the historical figure. Source
John of Gaunt: Background and Influence
Status and Position
John of Gaunt (1340–1399), Duke of Lancaster, was the third surviving son of Edward III. As uncle to the young Richard II, Gaunt became one of the most powerful figures in the kingdom during the king’s minority.
He was immensely wealthy, with vast estates in England and claims to Castile through his marriage to Constance of Castile.
Arms of John of Gaunt as claimant to Castile and León. The shield quarters Castile (castle) and León (lion) with the royal arms of England and France (ancient), marked by a label of three points for cadency. This heraldry illustrates Gaunt’s assertion of a Castilian royal title, a key influence on English war aims. Source
This international connection influenced his approach to foreign wars.
Political Influence
Role in the Minority Councils: Although Richard’s minority was governed by a council rather than a single regent, Gaunt exerted strong influence, particularly over matters of finance and foreign affairs.
Unpopularity: Many contemporaries viewed Gaunt as overbearing. His reputation for arrogance and his perceived exploitation of the royal council made him unpopular among both nobility and commons.
Conflict with Parliament: Gaunt clashed with the parliaments of the late 1370s, especially over taxation and his handling of the French war. He became a target for criticism, symbolising the failures of royal governance.
Gaunt and Religious Controversy
In 1378, Gaunt became associated with John Wycliffe, a church reformer. While Gaunt likely sought to use Wycliffe’s criticisms of clerical wealth to bolster political power, this alliance alienated ecclesiastical leaders and contributed further to his contentious image.
John Wycliffe: An English theologian and reformer who challenged Church authority, emphasising the primacy of Scripture over clerical hierarchy.
The Renewal of the French War
Background to the Conflict
By 1377, the Hundred Years’ War had been ongoing for four decades. Under Edward III, England had experienced significant victories, but by the end of his reign the fortunes of war had shifted.
France, under Charles V and the skilful leadership of Bertrand du Guesclin, had regained much lost territory, leaving England in a precarious position.
Strategic Problems
Financial Strain: War was costly. The crown faced mounting debts, and Richard’s minority government relied heavily on taxation.
Defence of Calais and Gascony: England’s possessions in France, particularly Gascony, were under constant threat.
“Marches of Calais, 1377.” The map highlights the fortified Pale around Calais and marks territory ceded by the Treaty of Brétigny (1360) and areas recovered by France in 1377. Extra detail includes nearby Flemish towns, which is helpful context but not required by the syllabus. Source
Maintaining these outposts required resources the English crown struggled to raise.
Naval Weakness: France launched raids on the English coast, heightening the sense of insecurity and undermining support for the war effort.
Gaunt’s Role in the War
John of Gaunt attempted to take an active role in directing the conflict:
In 1373, before Richard’s accession, Gaunt had led a failed chevauchée through France, which damaged his military reputation.
During Richard’s minority, he advocated for renewed campaigns but was unable to secure consistent financial backing.
His interest in pursuing claims in Castile through marriage sometimes distracted from the central Anglo-French struggle, causing further criticism.
Parliamentary Discontent
The Good Parliament of 1376 and subsequent assemblies highlighted the deep resentment towards Gaunt’s handling of war. Parliament was reluctant to grant subsidies without assurances of reform. When further taxation was requested under Richard’s minority government, resentment deepened, laying the groundwork for future crises such as the Poll Tax disputes.
The Wider Impact of Gaunt’s Influence
Domestic Opposition
Gaunt’s dominance created divisions at court, with some nobles opposing his influence over the king and the councils.
His perceived failures in war and foreign policy made him a convenient scapegoat for discontent.
Popular Perceptions
Among the wider population, Gaunt’s reputation was deeply negative:
He was accused of self-interest, exploiting his power for personal gain.
Urban centres, especially London, were hostile towards him.
Rumours and propaganda painted him as indifferent to national defence.
Consequences for Richard II’s Minority
The influence of John of Gaunt during these years had lasting consequences:
It weakened confidence in royal leadership, as the young Richard was associated with his unpopular uncle.
It exacerbated tensions between parliament and crown over taxation and the direction of war.
The renewal of the French conflict drained resources and widened political fractures, shaping the difficulties Richard would later face in asserting his personal authority.
Key Points
John of Gaunt was central to governance in Richard II’s early years, but his unpopularity destabilised the regime.
The renewal of the French war strained England financially and militarily, exacerbating political divisions.
Gaunt’s influence was both domestic and international, tied to his vast estates and his dynastic ambitions in Castile.
The political crises of the late 1370s and early 1380s cannot be separated from Gaunt’s dominant role in council and foreign policy.
FAQ
John of Gaunt faced hostility in London because he was perceived as arrogant and indifferent to the needs of ordinary people.
His association with unpopular taxation and accusations of self-enrichment fuelled suspicion. Londoners resented his interference in city governance, and riots sometimes broke out in response to his presence. His links with John Wycliffe also alienated church authorities, further tarnishing his reputation.
Gaunt’s marriage to Constance of Castile gave him a claim to the Castilian throne. This diverted his focus away from the French war.
He pursued campaigns in Spain, seeking to assert his dynastic rights.
These ambitions required alliances, notably with Portugal, complicating England’s continental strategy.
Resources and attention that might have strengthened English defences in France were instead channelled into Iberian ventures.
Parliament was central in approving taxation for war. Its willingness to grant funds was limited by distrust of Gaunt and concerns over financial waste.
Parliaments demanded accountability and sometimes resisted subsidies unless reforms were promised. Their scrutiny created tension between crown and commons, showing how war finance shaped early constitutional politics.
French raids on the English coast in the late 1370s caused widespread alarm.
Ports such as Rye and Hastings were attacked, undermining confidence in England’s defences.
Coastal communities pressed the crown to strengthen naval patrols.
The threat forced England to prioritise defensive measures, limiting resources available for continental campaigns.
Yes. Gaunt retained influence through his vast estates and loyal retainers, particularly in the north of England.
His household knights and affinity provided military and political support. Noble families with ties to the Lancastrian estates often backed him, seeing advantage in his protection. Despite national criticism, Gaunt’s private power base made him indispensable to the governance of Richard’s minority.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
In which year did Richard II come to the throne, and who was his influential uncle during his minority?
Mark scheme:
1 mark for correctly identifying 1377 as the year of Richard II’s accession.
1 mark for correctly identifying John of Gaunt as the influential uncle.
Question 2 (6 marks)
Explain how John of Gaunt influenced the renewal of the war with France during Richard II’s minority.
Mark scheme:
1 mark for noting Gaunt’s role in the minority councils, where he shaped foreign policy decisions.
1 mark for mentioning his failed chevauchée of 1373, which damaged his military standing.
1 mark for explaining that Gaunt advocated renewed campaigns in France during Richard’s early reign.
1 mark for identifying financial strain and parliamentary opposition to taxation as limiting Gaunt’s ability to prosecute the war.
1 mark for noting Gaunt’s dynastic interests in Castile, which sometimes distracted from the Anglo-French struggle.
1 mark for recognising that his unpopularity made him a scapegoat for war failures and increased political tensions at home.
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