Richard II

Richard II – The play opens with King Richard’s cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, accusing Thomas Mowbray of treason, including involvement in the murder of the Duke of Gloucester, Richard’s uncle. Richard stops their planned trial by combat and banishes both men: Mowbray for life and Henry for a period of years. While Richard is in Ireland, Henry returns and gathers significant support from disgruntled nobles and commoners. Upon Richard’s return, he realizes his support has evaporated and is eventually forced to abdicate the throne, yielding the crown to Henry Bolingbroke, who becomes King Henry IV.