# Duke of Aumerle — Richard II character guide

> Duke of Aumerle in Richard II by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Aumerle, Percy Aumerle, Cousin Aumerle, Lord Aumerle, the Lord Aumerle, York Aumerle, Aumerle Princes, Aumerle Madam, Aumerle Northumberland, Aumerle Fitzwater, Aumerle Comfort, Comfort

**First appearance:** 0002-act-i-scene-i

## Snapshot

A young kinsman of Richard whose loyalty survives the deposition and curdles into conspiracy, making him the play's most conflicted survivor.

## Who they are

Aumerle moves through the early court as one of Richard's close attendants, present at the lists and the abdication, his allegiance personal rather than political. When Bolingbroke takes the throne, Aumerle's grief turns to plot, and his father York's horror at discovering the conspiracy forces him into a scene of family betrayal. His arc shows how the deposition poisons even the loyal, turning affection into treason and pardon into a kind of shame.

## In the story

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_ii_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iii)

Bids farewell to Bolingbroke, promising to correspond.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_ii_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iv)

Reports on escorting Bolingbroke to the highway and describes the lack of genuine tears at parting.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_ii_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii)

Asks about his father York's forces and tries to comfort Richard.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_ii_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iii)

Stands with Richard on the walls, weeps at Richard's plight, and advises fighting with gentle words.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_ii_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i)

Accused by Bagot and others of involvement in Gloucester's death; throws down his gage in defiance and later joins the conspiracy against Bolingbroke.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_ii_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii)

Now called Rutland; enters carrying a document that reveals his involvement in a conspiracy against Bolingbroke.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_ii_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iii)

Confesses to conspiracy against Bolingbroke, begs for pardon, and is forgiven after his mother's intercession.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_ii_se/characters/aumerle
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_ii_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_ii_se/characters