The Cousins’ Conflict

Richard of Bordeaux and Henry of Bolingbrook were first cousins, grandsons of England’s Edward III. Both became King of England, Richard II and Henry IV, respectively, with Henry usurping Richard when both were 33.

The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV, by Helen Castor, is a joint biography of the two kings, exploring their reigns and the influence they had on British constitutional law. She frames the story within the history of the royal family, showing their upbringings’ effect on both men.

Edward III reigned during the glorious English victories at Crécy and Poitiers. His eldest son, Edward, the Black Prince, and Richard’s father, was present at Crécy, commander at Poitiers and was then England’s greatest war hero, beloved by the people.

The Black Prince predeceased his father. Richard II inherited the throne while a child, at age 10. A regency council (which included John of Gaunt, Henry’s father) ran Richard’s kingdom during his youth. Just before Richard’s accession, England experienced profound difficulties, internal and external, with consequences felt in Richard’s early reign. These included the Peasants’ Revolt. The blame for what went wrong fell on the regency council, including the loyal John of Gaunt.

When Richard came of age, he dissolved the council, but proved a weak king. Castor shows the biggest problem was Richard’s belief that his will was absolute, in a kingdom where the Magna Carta and an unwritten constitution limited the king.

Eventually Richard alienated everyone but a small circle of sycophants. Henry left England for his safety. Then Richard retroactively changed laws to get his way and punished those who checked his desires earlier. The nobility supported Richard’s replacement with Henry.

Castor rightly describes what happened as tragedy. She shows how Richard’s belief that, as God’s anointed, he could exercise his rights and privileges while disregarding everyone else’s was feckless. It left no one safe under Richard's rule. She also shows how Henry was given a poisoned chalice. As Henry IV, he spent as much time repairing the damage to the crown’s legitimacy as repairing the damage Richard had done to England.

The Eagle and the Hart is fascinating. This dual biography of Richard and Henry offers a compelling account, with a deeply textured look at leadership, masculinity, and identity in a turbulent time. It is a worthwhile study of the limitations of power and ambition.

“The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV,” by Helen Castor, Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster, October 2025, 576 pages, $35.00 (Hardcover), $22.00 (Paperback), $16.99 (E-book) $26.24 (audiobook)

This review was written by Mark Lardas, who writes at Ricochet as Seawriter. Mark Lardas, an engineer, freelance writer, historian, and model-maker, lives in League City, TX. His website is marklardas.com.