Ten year old Richard II succeeded succeeded Edward III as King. While in his minority England was governed by a council from which Richard's uncles were excluded. The council was not popular with the the people, levying three poll taxes to fund a number of unsuccessful military campaigns overseas. Heavy handed collection of poll taxes led to the Peasants Revolt in 1381.
Richard surrounded himself with friends in his council, rewarding them with titles and land often at the expense of other barons. This, of course, did not endear Richard to the barons. In 1386 after particularly large tax Richard imposed to pay the cost of preparations for an anticipated French invasion, the barons refused to pay and de-facto took control of the government. With the power now in the barons hands they sentenced many of Richard's advisers and friends to death.
Richard had an intense sense of the royal prerogative and was incensed with the barons. In particular the ring leaders - the duke of Gloucester and the earls of Arundel, Warwick, Nottingham and Henry Bolingbroke, earl of Derby and. Richard was gradually able to take back royal power and by 1397 was in a position to take his revenge. He arrested the earl of Arundel, tried and executed him. The duke of Gloucester was imprisoned in Calais and likely murdered there by order the King. Henry Bolingbroke was exiled and his lands seized.
In 1399, fearful of an insurrection led by the exiled Henry Bolingbroke, Richard ordered castles on the south and east of England to be garrisoned. However in Sussex, Sir John Pelham, constable of Pevensey castle had already joined Henry Bolingbroke in France. Richard's forces laid siege to the Pevensey, but Sir John's wife, Lady Joan Pelham successfully held the castle.
Henry Bolingbroke eventually landed in the north of England and raised an army to challenge Richard. Bolingbroke marched south taking castles still loyal to Richard. Richard surrendered at Conway castle in Wales. Richard was then forced to abdicate and imprisoned in the Tower of London and later in Pontefract castle. Henry Bolingbroke then claimed the throne of England, becoming King Henry IV. It is believed that Richard was later starved to death in Pontefract castle.