Dan Jones

By the time we get to the late 14th century, there's been a pretty lineal descent of kings, actually. In the 14th century, a great king, Edward III, great by the acknowledgement of the people of his day and thereafter, rules England, wins lots of victories in the wars against France, has a lot of children. Edward III dies after a 50-year reign in 1377 and is succeeded by his grandson, Richard II.

By the time we get to the late 14th century, there's been a pretty lineal descent of kings, actually. In the 14th century, a great king, Edward III, great by the acknowledgement of the people of his day and thereafter, rules England, wins lots of victories in the wars against France, has a lot of children. Edward III dies after a 50-year reign in 1377 and is succeeded by his grandson, Richard II.

Richard II is the eldest son of the eldest son of Edward III. The missing link, therefore, is Richard II's father, known to history as the Black Prince, a great warrior, but died before Edward III. So in 1377, both Edward III, his son, the Black Prince, die, and they leave as king, therefore, a young boy for Richard II, who's 10 years old at the time that he inherits the throne.

Richard II is the eldest son of the eldest son of Edward III. The missing link, therefore, is Richard II's father, known to history as the Black Prince, a great warrior, but died before Edward III. So in 1377, both Edward III, his son, the Black Prince, die, and they leave as king, therefore, a young boy for Richard II, who's 10 years old at the time that he inherits the throne.

Richard II is the eldest son of the eldest son of Edward III. The missing link, therefore, is Richard II's father, known to history as the Black Prince, a great warrior, but died before Edward III. So in 1377, both Edward III, his son, the Black Prince, die, and they leave as king, therefore, a young boy for Richard II, who's 10 years old at the time that he inherits the throne.

10 years old is not a great time to become a king. In some ways, it's much worse than any other age to become a king because you're entering the cusp of adolescence. There will be times in the Middle Ages in many kingdoms where inheritance falls on a baby, completely incapable of even understanding the job, let alone performing it.

10 years old is not a great time to become a king. In some ways, it's much worse than any other age to become a king because you're entering the cusp of adolescence. There will be times in the Middle Ages in many kingdoms where inheritance falls on a baby, completely incapable of even understanding the job, let alone performing it.

10 years old is not a great time to become a king. In some ways, it's much worse than any other age to become a king because you're entering the cusp of adolescence. There will be times in the Middle Ages in many kingdoms where inheritance falls on a baby, completely incapable of even understanding the job, let alone performing it.

And oftentimes that's okay because you have ruling councils who rule in the name of that child. The child won't get involved. Having a boy of 10 upwards to 18 on the throne is a real problem because they have some understanding, some political will, but they're also constrained by the law not to be able to fully exercise their office. So it's a very awkward period.

And oftentimes that's okay because you have ruling councils who rule in the name of that child. The child won't get involved. Having a boy of 10 upwards to 18 on the throne is a real problem because they have some understanding, some political will, but they're also constrained by the law not to be able to fully exercise their office. So it's a very awkward period.

And oftentimes that's okay because you have ruling councils who rule in the name of that child. The child won't get involved. Having a boy of 10 upwards to 18 on the throne is a real problem because they have some understanding, some political will, but they're also constrained by the law not to be able to fully exercise their office. So it's a very awkward period.

Richard II also grows up knowing no example of kingship because he's only 10 when his grandfather dies because he never sees his father rule.

Richard II also grows up knowing no example of kingship because he's only 10 when his grandfather dies because he never sees his father rule.

Richard II also grows up knowing no example of kingship because he's only 10 when his grandfather dies because he never sees his father rule.

he has no model for what kingship looks like he's told in 1377 when he comes to the throne he's the messiah basically he's going to come and save england the last years of his grandfather edward iii's reign have been years of corruption of decay of losses in the war of edwards the king then sliding into age-related dementia senility so richard's told that he's he's going to save the kingdom

he has no model for what kingship looks like he's told in 1377 when he comes to the throne he's the messiah basically he's going to come and save england the last years of his grandfather edward iii's reign have been years of corruption of decay of losses in the war of edwards the king then sliding into age-related dementia senility so richard's told that he's he's going to save the kingdom

he has no model for what kingship looks like he's told in 1377 when he comes to the throne he's the messiah basically he's going to come and save england the last years of his grandfather edward iii's reign have been years of corruption of decay of losses in the war of edwards the king then sliding into age-related dementia senility so richard's told that he's he's going to save the kingdom

Well, that's also a dangerous thing to tell a child. You don't really want to tell a child that they're the messiah. That's parenting 101 as well as like politics 101. But he grows up sort of imbued with this sense and is then doubly outraged at all moments in his reign thereafter when he's thwarted or stymied because he's like, I thought I was the messiah.

Well, that's also a dangerous thing to tell a child. You don't really want to tell a child that they're the messiah. That's parenting 101 as well as like politics 101. But he grows up sort of imbued with this sense and is then doubly outraged at all moments in his reign thereafter when he's thwarted or stymied because he's like, I thought I was the messiah.

Well, that's also a dangerous thing to tell a child. You don't really want to tell a child that they're the messiah. That's parenting 101 as well as like politics 101. But he grows up sort of imbued with this sense and is then doubly outraged at all moments in his reign thereafter when he's thwarted or stymied because he's like, I thought I was the messiah.