Robert de Vere, Earl of Oxford and Duke of Ireland (1362-1392): The Rise and Fall of a Royal Favourite

Robert de Vere, a close friend of King Richard II, was accused of political crimes and private vices by the Lords Appellant. This book investigates these accusations and assesses de Vere against contemporary criteria, revealing him to be a more rounded and complex figure than previously assumed.

Format: Hardback
Length: 318 pages
Publication date: 23 July 2024
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

Robert de Vere, a close friend of King Richard II, faced accusations of political crimes and private vices during the later fourteenth century in England. Despite being defeated by the Lords Appellant at the battle of Radcot Bridge in 1387, he died abroad in exile at the age of 30. However, his contemporaries and modern historians have portrayed him as a typical royal favourite, characterized by unmartial behavior, immoral actions, self-seeking tendencies, and excessive promotion and enrichment. This book explores these accusations and assesses de Vere's character and actions against contemporary criteria. Through extensive archival research, the book reveals that de Vere was more than just a grasping courtier. He had held the title of Earl of Oxford since the age of nine, inherited a substantial landed estate, and had served in foreign wars. Additionally, he made a sincere effort to govern the English lordship in Ireland, which had been granted to him by Richard. The findings presented in this book demonstrate that de Vere was a far more complex and rounded figure than previously believed.

Weight: 1g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781837651948