Richard became king at the age of ten, taking over for his father, Edward the Black Prince, Edward III's oldest son, who predeceased his father. This elevation gave the boy authority over all nobles, including his uncles. Once crowned, Richard's right to rule and to have his commands obeyed was supported by the order of God, since it was believed that the king's power was issued directly from God. The king served as the representative of God on Earth, and to resist the will of the king was to onset oneself against the order of the universe and the will of God. Therefore, the king ruled by divine right, and it was this belief that served as Richard's primary weapon.
Richard is a king and not simply a man and this play is about the claim of a king. Most of Richard's actions have to do with the act of kingly power or the failure to act. Richard is not just; the matter of Gloucester's death proves just that. As long as Richard is king he is just the landlord of England.
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