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Richard de Vere, Earl of Oxford, was a favourite of King Richard II of England, on whom the King relied for advice and to whom he gave land, honours and wealth. De Vere was married to Philippa de Coucy the Kings cousin and also had an affair with Agnes de Launcekrona, a Czech lady-in-waiting of the Queen, Anne of Bohemia. There were also rumours of a homosexual relationship between de Vere and the King.
De Vere was hugely unpopular with the nobles and magnates and Richards close relationship with him was one of the catalysts for the emergence of an organised opposition to his rule in the form of the Lords Appellant.
In 1387 de Vere led Richards forces to defeat at Radcot Bridge outside Oxford, against the forces of the Lords Appellant. He was forced into exile by parliament in 1388, and his lands were confiscated. He died in 1392 in France and in 1395 King Richard had his embalmed body brought back to England for burial. Many of the lords refused to attend the funeral, during which Richard had the coffin opened to kiss his lost friend's hand.
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