King Henry IV was the son of John of Gaunt and Blanche of Lancaster, and the first Lancastrian king. He began his reign usurping the unpopular king, Richard II, but spent the next 13 years defending his crown from rebellions and assassination attempts. Incessant opposition from the powerful Percy family and the ambitious Prince of Wales, Owain Glyndwr, wore down King Henry IV and the treasury. Talks of abdication from the Archbishop of Canterbury, and growing support for Henry IV’s son, Henry V, drove the king to exhaustion and eventually his death.

King Richard II was the second son of Edward the Black Prince and Joan of Kent. He began his reign at the tender age of 10. At just 14, he successfully faced down the Peasants' Revolt, but this encouraged his inner belief that kings should rule with absolute power. A dogmatic, extravagant and despotic ruler, Richard II failed to gain the loyalty of his barons. King Richard II was overthrown and forced to abdicate, leading to his imprisonment and death.