OCR Specification focus:
‘The return of Gaunt and stability 1388–1397.’
Richard II’s reign was transformed after 1388 when John of Gaunt returned from Castile, easing political tensions, strengthening royal authority, and ushering in nearly a decade of stability.
The Political Context after 1388
Following the Merciless Parliament (1388), Richard II’s authority was left deeply weakened by the Lords Appellant, a group of powerful nobles who sought to control royal governance. Their dominance led to political instability, factionalism, and growing fears of tyranny. By 1388, the kingdom was fractured, with Richard’s position uncertain. Into this situation returned John of Gaunt, Richard’s influential uncle and Duke of Lancaster.
The Role of John of Gaunt
John of Gaunt (1340–1399), Duke of Lancaster, had spent much of the 1380s pursuing his dynastic claim to the throne of Castile through his marriage to Constance of Castile. His absence had left a vacuum in English politics.
Lords Appellant: A faction of five nobles, including the Duke of Gloucester and the Earls of Arundel and Warwick, who sought to curb Richard II’s power and impose their own control in 1387–88.
When Gaunt returned in 1389, he acted as a stabilising figure. His seniority, wealth, and military prestige gave him the authority to reconcile Richard II and the Lords Appellant, smoothing over divisions that had paralysed government.
Coat of arms of John of Gaunt, showing the English royal arms differenced alongside Castile and León, encircled by the Order of the Garter. This clarifies Gaunt’s status and claims referenced in the notes. Heraldic embellishments exceed syllabus needs but aid recognition. Source
Richard II’s Resumption of Authority (1389)
In May 1389, Richard II declared his majority rule, announcing in parliament that he would henceforth govern without the control of councillors. This was a bold statement of royal ideology, emphasising his rightful authority. Crucially, John of Gaunt supported Richard in this declaration, ensuring noble acquiescence.
Richard’s reign from 1389 to 1397 was characterised by relative peace, marking a departure from the turbulence of the 1380s.
Political Reconciliation
Key developments included:
Reconciliation with the Lords Appellant: Richard publicly forgave those who had opposed him in 1387–88.
Noble harmony: Gaunt’s influence persuaded Gloucester and other Lords Appellant to co-operate, avoiding immediate reprisals.
Strengthened monarchy: Richard avoided direct confrontation with leading magnates, enabling his personal authority to grow more secure.
Financial and Administrative Stability
The 1380s had been marred by crippling debts and unpopular taxation. Between 1389 and 1397, Richard adopted more moderate financial policies, working with parliament to balance the crown’s needs with the realm’s capacity.
Finance and Parliament
Moderate taxation: Fewer demands were made for subsidies, partly due to peace abroad.
Improved royal revenue: Richard exploited traditional revenues from customs duties and crown estates.
Better relations with parliament: With Gaunt’s backing, Richard demonstrated a willingness to listen to parliamentary concerns, easing tensions.
This financial pragmatism contributed to perceptions of renewed stability, as the crown no longer appeared reckless or overbearing.
Foreign Policy and Peace Diplomacy
One of the key reasons for stability was the shift in foreign policy. Richard’s government sought peace rather than aggressive warfare.
Truce with France: In 1389, a truce was agreed, temporarily ending hostilities in the Hundred Years’ War.
Illumination from Froissart’s Chronicles showing Richard II of England and Charles VI of France agreeing a truce in 1389. This visualises the ceremonial nature of peacemaking and diplomacy underpinning Richard’s stable years, corresponding to the Truce of Leulinghem. Source
Diplomatic marriages: Richard later married Isabella of Valois, daughter of the French king (1396), sealing a more lasting truce.
Miniature showing Isabella of Valois being presented to Richard II in 1396. The scene encapsulates marriage as statecraft, linking family ties to prolonged truce. Additional courtly details exceed syllabus needs but do not obscure the core diplomatic message. Source
Reduced taxation: Peace with France meant fewer military campaigns, reducing the need for heavy subsidies.
Truce of Leulinghem (1389): An agreement between England and France to suspend hostilities, leading to a period of relative calm in Anglo-French relations.
This policy of peace was widely popular among the political elite, many of whom were weary of costly foreign wars.
John of Gaunt’s Influence (1389–1397)
Gaunt remained a central figure throughout this period, ensuring the balance of power remained in Richard’s favour.
Support for Richard
He legitimised Richard’s authority, discouraging further noble rebellion.
His immense wealth and Lancastrian affinity provided a counterweight to other magnates.
By pursuing his claim in Castile diplomatically, he avoided destabilising English politics with foreign adventures.
Relations with Other Nobles
Gaunt’s ability to mediate disputes allowed him to act as a bridge between Richard and potentially hostile magnates. His death in 1399 would later leave a vacuum that contributed to Richard’s downfall.
The Nature of Stability (1389–1397)
The nine-year period after Gaunt’s return is often described as a time of “calm before the storm.” While Richard appeared reconciled with his nobles and governed moderately, tensions beneath the surface persisted.
Features of the Stability
Personal monarchy strengthened: Richard demonstrated increasing confidence in exercising authority.
Factional rivalries reduced: Gaunt’s influence lessened aristocratic feuds.
Peace with France: Enabled financial recovery and reduced parliamentary hostility.
Public perception of stability: The political elite welcomed moderation after the turbulence of the late 1380s.
However, historians caution that the stability was fragile. Richard’s personal resentment against the Lords Appellant remained unresolved, laying the groundwork for his later purge of opponents in 1397.
Underlying Fragility
Unresolved feuds: Richard never forgot the humiliations of 1387–88.
Reliance on Gaunt: Stability was heavily dependent on the Duke of Lancaster’s presence.
Royal ambitions: Richard’s long-term vision of monarchy went beyond the moderate policies of this decade.
In essence, while the years 1389–1397 represented a period of apparent stability, they concealed tensions that would resurface violently in the closing years of the century.
FAQ
Richard II valued Gaunt’s support to strengthen his fragile authority after the Merciless Parliament, while opponents like Gloucester recognised Gaunt’s seniority and preferred his balanced influence over younger royal favourites.
Gaunt was seen as a figure capable of mediating disputes without inflaming tensions, giving all parties confidence that governance would not immediately descend into renewed conflict.
Richard adopted a more pragmatic and conciliatory style compared to his confrontational early years. He emphasised justice, moderation, and diplomacy, avoiding open reprisals against former opponents.
He also presented himself as a peacemaker, promoting harmony within the realm and abroad, particularly through truce negotiations with France.
The cessation of costly wars meant Richard did not have to demand frequent subsidies, which had been a major cause of parliamentary hostility in the 1370s and 1380s.
Reduced taxation eased burdens on the commons.
Fewer military failures prevented criticism of government competence.
Parliament welcomed stability and was more cooperative with the crown.
Gaunt continued to pursue his Castilian claim, but he shifted to diplomatic strategies rather than costly military ventures.
This meant:
England avoided financial strain from foreign campaigns.
Nobles were less divided over continental strategy.
Gaunt’s ambitions did not disrupt domestic stability, allowing Richard’s authority to grow.
Although outwardly peaceful, underlying tensions persisted: Richard still resented the Lords Appellant, and many magnates doubted his long-term intentions.
Stability relied heavily on Gaunt’s presence; his eventual death in 1399 exposed how fragile the reconciliation really was. The later purge of 1397 revealed Richard’s suppressed anger, showing that moderation had been temporary.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
In which year did Richard II declare his personal rule, ending minority councils and asserting his authority?
Mark scheme:
1389 (2 marks)
Accept “May 1389” (2 marks)
Award 1 mark for “1380s” or other vague but broadly correct decade reference.
Question 2 (6 marks)
Explain why the return of John of Gaunt in 1389 helped to bring stability to England during Richard II’s reign.
Mark scheme:
1–2 marks: Basic answer with limited detail, e.g. “Gaunt was powerful so people listened to him.”
3–4 marks: Clear explanation with some specific detail, e.g. “Gaunt supported Richard II and persuaded nobles like the Lords Appellant to work with him.”
5–6 marks: Developed explanation with multiple factors, e.g.:
Gaunt’s seniority and influence legitimised Richard’s authority.
He acted as a mediator between Richard and hostile magnates.
His wealth and Lancastrian affinity provided a stabilising counterweight.
He avoided destabilising England by pursuing his Castilian claim diplomatically rather than militarily.
To reach top marks, answers must show a clear link between Gaunt’s return and the broader political stability of 1389–1397.
_type_2.svg){kind=link}
