1369: New outbreak of war with France
1376: Good Parliament:
Commons complain about undue taxation; a number of king's councillors are impeached, including Lord Latimer, the king's chamberlain, Alice Perrers, his mistress, and a group of rich merchant capitalists of London who are charged with illegal profiteering. Note that it wasn't the government as such that was accused, but rather people close to the king who had used their influence to secure illegal profits. This parliament is the first time that the Commons (not the Lords) tried individuals for impeachment, and marks a historical precedent in which individuals can be held responsible to the nation at large.
1376: Edward Black Prince dies
1377: First poll tax granted. Death of Edward III. Richard accedes and a minority council is appointed.
1378: Great Schism: rival popes at Rome and Avignon
1379: Graduated poll tax imposed
1380: Richard II ends his minority and assumes kingship.
Wyclif (d. 1384) is forced to cease teaching at Oxford due to heretical opinions. Another poll tax is levied.
1381: Peasant's Revolt. In response to new poll tax and resentment over other political impositions perceived to be corrupt, a popular rebellion sweeps across England. Rebels pour into London and execute key political figures. The young king Richard calms the rebels, but then betrays them and has the ringleaders executed.
1386: Wonderful Parliament. Parliament impeaches the king's chancellor, Michael de la Pole, which Richard sees as an encroachment on his royal prerogative.
1387 Questions to Judges: Richard II retaliates for the impeachment of his chancellor by putting questions to judges (who are possibly under threat). Judges declare that Parliament's opposition to king is treasonable. Crisis nears and culminates in Battle at Radcot Bridge. Appellant lords (Henry Bolingbroke, later Henry IV; Gloucester; Warwick; Arundel; Mowbray) defeat Richard's men; this defeat paves the way for the Merciless Parliament
1388: Feb-June: Merciless Parliament:
After the appellants' victory at Radcot Bridge, there is a realignment of power. Richard's friends and supporters are accused of treason. Among those accused are five favorites who were accused of "accroaching royal power": de Vere, Pole, Tressilian, Nicholas Brembre (mayor of London) and Archbishop Neville. Brembre and Tressilian are executed; the others go into hiding. Other supporters are put to death as well: Simon Burley, the chamber knights, and Thomas Usk, poet and a friend of Chaucer's.
1388: Sept: Cambridge Parliament: New complaints from the Commons emerge regarding badges and signs of livery among the aristocrats, gentry, and guilds. Richard sees chnce to regain prestige, vows to uphold public order.
1389: Council at Westminster: Richard resumes rule of kingship with aid of councillors of his choice. Appellants surrender their seals of office.
1394: Death of Anne of Bohemia, Richard's queen; Richard's first Irish expedition
1396: 26-year treaty with France; Richard marries Isabella of France
1397: Gloucester, Warwick and Arundel charged with treason; Arundel executed; Warwick imprisoned, Gloucester murdered
1398: Bolingbroke exiled
1399: Bolingbroke deposes Richard II and is crowned king:
John of Gaunt dies and Richard seizes the Lancaster inheritance. Bolingbroke returns from exile to claim his inheritance and deposes Richard II. Bolingbroke, now Henry IV, crowned king October 12.
1400: Death of Chaucer
1403: Revolt of Percies; defeat at Shrewsbury
1407: Revolt of Percies
1413: Death of Henry IV; Henry V coronated
1414: Lollard uprising