<p>A history play by William Shakespeare believed based on the life of King Richard II of England (ruled 1377&ndash;1399). The play begins with King Richard sitting majestically on his throne in full state, having been requested that he arbitrate a dispute between Thomas Mowbray and Richard&#39;s cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, who has accused Mowbray of squandering money given to him by Richard for the King&#39;s soldiers and of murdering his uncle, the Duke of Gloucester.</p>