Richard II.

Shakespeare’s „worst king“ has practically zero political savvy. The fact that he had one of his uncles murdered antagonised members of the extensive royal family. He also raised the taxes and levies to fund his magnificent court, which incensed large parts of the nobility. And when another uncle died, he confiscated his possessions and sent his sole heir into exile. His reign is characterized by abuse of his position. Henry Bolingbroke leads the rebellion against Richard; the king can no longer govern a country that is so deeply divided. The resulting national crises raises the central question of the legitimacy of people reigning other people.